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Arcom Reviews Bounty’s Reply as Probe Into Coco Successor Intensifies

Authorities are scrutinizing whether the chat’s protections actually prevent grooming and other harms to minors.

Overview

  • Arcom says it is analyzing Bounty’s written response to its formal letter on harmful content and has engaged e-Enfance and the national cybercrime office (OFAC) to assess next steps.
  • Sarah El Haïry, the Haut-commissaire à l’Enfance, referred the platform to Arcom on August 27, notified the Justice and Interior ministries, and filed a report to Pharos.
  • Journalists testing the site reported sign-up in under a minute without age verification and immediate explicit sexual solicitations from other users.
  • The site’s operator says he has answered Arcom, is cooperating with authorities, submits reports to Pharos, and will implement age checks and other changes.
  • Bounty launched in September 2024 as an unofficial successor to Coco, which was shut down after links to serious crimes; Coco’s founder was indicted in January on multiple charges.