Hearst Networks & SOSA Partner for Predator Files

Hearst Networks has partnered with the child protection organization SOSA for the new docuseries Predator Files, following undercover investigations to identify online child predators.

“Online predators count on anonymity, access and the assumption that no one will hold them accountable,” said Roo Powell, founder of SOSA. “Predator Files pulls back the curtain on not only how these crimes actually happen but how they can be stopped. When you understand the tactics, the patterns and how we run our undercover operations, the myth that these offenders are untouchable starts to fall apart.”

The series documents SOSA operatives working alongside law enforcement and Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces as they investigate individuals using social media platforms, gaming environments and other digital channels to groom minors. Investigations featured in the program are conducted within legal and prosecutorial guidelines to ensure that any evidence gathered can support arrests and convictions.

Across season one, Powell and the SOSA team undertake a range of undercover investigations, including cases involving individuals suspected of distributing child sexual abuse material, networks targeting young males online and operations examining the realities of online-facilitated sex trafficking. Actress and child safety advocate Ariel Winter also participates in several investigations.

Predator Files premiered in the U.K. on Crime+Investigation on March 12.

“This is an urgent global issue, and Predator Files examines the reality of how these crimes unfold and how they are investigated,” said Heather Jones, chief creative officer at Hearst Networks. “Crime+Investigation remains committed to impactful storytelling that reflects the work being done to protect vulnerable communities and hold offenders accountable.”