CHILD ABUSE

Apple is planning to scan U.S. iPhones for images of child abuse, drawing applause from child protection groups but raising concern among security researchers that the system could be misused by governments looking to surveil their citizens. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (Mark Lennihan)Apple unveiled plans to scan U.S. iPhones for images of child abuse, drawing applause from child protection groups but raising concern among some security researchers that the system could be misused by governments looking to surveil their citizens. The tool Apple calls “neuralMatch” will detect known images of child sexual abuse without decrypting people's messages. If it finds a match, the image will be reviewed by a human who can notify law enforcement if necessary. “Researchers have been able to do this pretty easily.”Tech companies including Microsoft, Google, Facebook and others have for years been sharing "hash lists" of known images of child sexual abuse.

ORLANDO, Fla. – A former Olympic-level figure skating coach accused of sexually assaulting one of his students has been arrested and booked into the Orange County jail. Andrei Berekhovski trained up-and-coming figure skating superstars at the Ice Factory rink in Kissimmee and lived in Windermere and Orlando, according to court records. Orange County Sheriff’s Office officials confirmed the information. He was deemed “ineligible” to coach or participate in figure skating until further notice. Figure Skating upheld the grievance and posted the disciplinary action on the organization’s website.

ORLANDO, Fla. – An observant manager at an Orlando restaurant helped rescue a boy who police say was the victim of severe child abuse, including being suspended upside down from a door, by secretly holding a sign that only the child could read. OK” and held it up to the boy while standing behind the man so he couldn’t see it, police said. ‘Do you need help?’ Orlando server uses secret sign to help rescue abused boy, police sayThe child’s stepfather, Timothy Wilson II was arrested on one count of third-degree child abuse. Wilson was arrested on multiple counts of aggravated child abuse and child neglect. “It was ongoing abuse and torture.”The Orlando Police Department said it regularly encourages people who see something to say something.

ORLANDO, Fla. – An Orange County deputy was arrested Sunday on child abuse charges, the same day he was fired from the agency in an unrelated matter, according to sheriff’s officials. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Deputy Christopher Dougherty was arrested three days after deputies responded to a 911 call about a residential alarm. Dougherty was taken to a hospital under the Baker Act and, upon his release from the hospital, he was arrested, the sheriff’s office said. The Sheriff’s Office said Doughtery was terminated from the agency Sunday for an unsatisfactory performance finding in a separate matter. “While this deputy was terminated for a pattern of unsatisfactory performance, these are very serious criminal allegations,” Orange County Sheriff John Mina said.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – An Orange County couple was arrested after multiple people reported a video posted to Facebook that showed a young girl being slapped and forced to sleep outside without clothing, according to the Sheriff’s Office. A video posted to social media showed the child sleeping outside with no clothing and only a white towel, according to the arrest report. “Many of you reached out about a video on social media depicting alleged abuse of a child,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post. Hunt told deputies the child was jumping on the bed and fell on a laptop prior to being punished. Hunt is charged with failure to report child abuse and neglect of a child.

“I’m not aware of any data that would substantiate that children are being abused at a higher rate during the pandemic,” he told The Associated Press. Comprehensive data on abuse during the pandemic won’t be available for many months, according to Milner. She and others have noted some changes during the pandemic — for example, more accidental injuries from burns, falls and mishaps on farms. What they have not seen is a surge of child abuse. However, Letourneau is encouraged by one recent trend — more older children are calling hotlines themselves to report exploitation and abuse.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala says she is collaborating with allies to help combat domestic abuse as concern around the coronavirus grows in Central Florida. Officials said the efforts are meant to assist in protecting victims of domestic violence, child abuse and animal cruelty as people are asked to stay home more often and for a longer period of time. “At the end of the day we want to make certain that victims’ lives are safe,” Ayala said. According to the State Attorney’s Office, data shows domestic violence and child abuse increases during financial stress, with the virus contributing to factors that may result in a higher likelihood of the abuse toward women, children and pets. A coalition of Central Florida leaders, including those tasked with preventing abuse and providing a safe haven for victims of domestic violence and child abuse, discussed the resources available to those who may be in need of assistance.

Is it child abuse or productive discipline? Parents disagree about the best way to discipline their children. WBNS spoke with parents and experts to see what people feel is acceptable and what goes too far.