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6. F<strong>in</strong>ancial Sub-Sec<strong>to</strong>rIt has been argued with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> discourse of <strong>the</strong> private sec<strong>to</strong>r’s <strong>in</strong>volvement <strong>in</strong> CSEC,<strong>the</strong> most noticeably absent cohort of those implicated has been <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>ancial sub-sec<strong>to</strong>r.This sub-sec<strong>to</strong>r has traditionally consisted of f<strong>in</strong>ancial <strong>in</strong>stitutions, credit card companiesand third party payment companies. Newer opera<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>in</strong>clude digital currency providers(e.g., e-Gold Ltd.) and virtual convertible currency suppliers (e.g., Entropia Universe). The<strong>in</strong>volvement of <strong>the</strong>se <strong>in</strong>dustries <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> buy<strong>in</strong>g, sell<strong>in</strong>g and trad<strong>in</strong>g of child abuse imageshas been known <strong>to</strong> law enforcement agencies and child rights groups even before <strong>the</strong>First World Congress <strong>in</strong> 1996 highlighted <strong>the</strong> connection. Despite <strong>the</strong> sub-sec<strong>to</strong>r’s longstand<strong>in</strong>gassociation with CSEC activities, <strong>the</strong> vast majority of f<strong>in</strong>ancial <strong>in</strong>stitutions haveopted not <strong>to</strong> participate <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> conferences or debates on <strong>the</strong> <strong>to</strong>pic and have been relativelysilent on <strong>the</strong>ir efforts <strong>to</strong> cease <strong>the</strong> use of <strong>the</strong>ir products <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> course of CSEC activities.In <strong>the</strong> past three years, likely <strong>the</strong> result of a rise <strong>in</strong> fraudulent monetary transactions<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g a general <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> identity <strong>the</strong>ft, a number of reports have been publishedfocus<strong>in</strong>g on a perceived need <strong>to</strong> better moni<strong>to</strong>r and regulate <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>ancial <strong>in</strong>dustries. InDecember 2005, <strong>the</strong> US Treasury Department published <strong>the</strong> US National Money Launder<strong>in</strong>gThreat Assessment. 392 Accord<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> report, crim<strong>in</strong>als are enjoy<strong>in</strong>g new advantages withglobalisation and <strong>the</strong> advent of new f<strong>in</strong>ancial services such as s<strong>to</strong>red value cards and onl<strong>in</strong>epayment services. The report identifies and assesses 13 systemic f<strong>in</strong>ancial threats aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong>US and, of those, two (e.g., onl<strong>in</strong>e payment systems and s<strong>to</strong>red value cards) are considered<strong>to</strong> be emerg<strong>in</strong>g threats. The report notes:New and <strong>in</strong>novative onl<strong>in</strong>e payment services are emerg<strong>in</strong>g globally <strong>in</strong> response<strong>to</strong> market demand from <strong>in</strong>dividuals and onl<strong>in</strong>e merchants… [O]nl<strong>in</strong>e merchants,particularly those <strong>in</strong> sec<strong>to</strong>rs with high ‘chargeback’ rates, are generat<strong>in</strong>g demandfor new payment methods. There are hundreds of <strong>the</strong>se onl<strong>in</strong>e payment systems.These markets embrace onl<strong>in</strong>e payment systems that set <strong>the</strong>ir own clear<strong>in</strong>gand settlement terms absent any consumer protection regulations. Typically,transactions through <strong>the</strong>se service providers are considered f<strong>in</strong>al with no recoursefor <strong>in</strong>dividuals who believe <strong>the</strong>y have been defrauded. The consequence, accord<strong>in</strong>g<strong>to</strong> federal law enforcement agencies, is that <strong>the</strong>se systems have become favoritepayment mechanisms for onl<strong>in</strong>e perpetra<strong>to</strong>rs of fraudulent <strong>in</strong>vestment schemesand o<strong>the</strong>r illegal activity. 39398|Private Sec<strong>to</strong>r Accountability <strong>in</strong> Combat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Commercial Sexual Exploitation of <strong>Child</strong>ren

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