Omegle, the anonymous video chat site founded in 2009, announced it is shutting down after 14 years, with founder Leif Brooks citing the stress and expense of fighting its misuse. The closure follows allegations that predators used the platform to target minors, including mention in over 50 criminal cases and a landmark 2021 lawsuit.
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stress and expense of fighting its misuse
commit unspeakably heinous crimes
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Omegle, the popular live video chatting website that randomly pairs users with strangers, announced it is shutting down after 14 years.
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However, the platform has been mentioned in over 50 criminal cases against predators in recent years.
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Brooks launched Omegle in 2009 when he was 18, hoping the anonymous nature could facilitate positive interactions.
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Omegle, the popular live video chatting website that randomly pairs users with strangers, announced it is shutting down after 14 years.
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A landmark 2021 lawsuit accused Omegle of negligently pairing a minor with a predator. Omegle denied wrongdoing but agreed to a settlement.
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In the UK, the communications regulator Ofcom called out the issue of online grooming in its first guidance under the Online Safety Act.
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