Twenty years ago, I lived through every child's darkest fear and my parents' worst nightmare. At 13, I became the first widely known victim of internet grooming and abduction. For four harrowing days, I endured unimaginable torture at the hands of my captor, held in a basement dungeon while he livestreamed my pain to the darkest corners of the internet.

My rescue came in the eleventh hour, mere moments before I may have been killed. I was saved, not by chance, but by law enforcement using critical investigative tools. Tools that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is now proposing to take away.

As Las Vegas prepares to host the Formula One race Nov. 23, drawing hundreds of thousands of fans from across the globe, we face a chilling reality. Major events such as these are magnets not just for enthusiasts, but for human traffickers preying on the vulnerable and exploiting them for profit. Last year's F1 event saw a surge in trafficking, particularly in the sex trade serving a global array of spectators.

The CFPB is currently drafting a proposal that would effectively prevent data analytic companies from sharing key identifying information — such as names, addresses and Social Security and phone numbers, but not financial details — with law enforcement agencies. This data is critical in identifying witnesses, tracking down missing persons and rescuing trafficking victims. Without it, police would face long delays in acquiring the data they need to track down victims and criminals.

If this proposal moves forward, law enforcement would be forced to subpoena this information instead of having the immediate access they've had for decades. This process could take weeks or months, and the initial information gained is critical to developing the probable cause needed to make arrests and rescue victims. Imagine a young child, trapped like I was, waiting months to be found — if ever found at all. In trafficking cases, where every second counts, this delay could mean the difference between life and death.

During last year's Las Vegas Grand Prix, a Metropolitan Police Department operation resulted in 74 arrests related to sex trafficking and the rescue of five children. Imagine how many more victims could have slipped through the cracks if police had been hamstrung by bureaucratic delays.

The CFPB's proposal raises alarming questions: Why are they actively working to obstruct law enforcement's ability to protect vulnerable citizens? It's currently legal for agencies to access this data for lawful purposes, such as investigating human traffickers. The proposed changes would force them to request subpoenas for even the most basic information from the U.S. Attorney's Office, requiring approval from a judge or grand jury before the credit bureau could provide the information. This backward and cumbersome process only benefits the criminals.

This is not just a theoretical issue. The stakes are real and present, as seen in last year's Las Vegas Grand Prix. The threat of human trafficking at events such as F1 is perhaps higher than it has ever been. According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, in 2023 alone, there were 36.2 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation — a 12 percent  increase from the previous year. This alarming surge underscores the need for enhanced protective measures and vigilant reporting to safeguard vulnerable youth, particularly those in the care of social services, who remain at heightened risk.

In this climate, will the CFPB really make it more difficult to stop child predators and save American lives from modern-day slavery? What about women and children trafficked globally?

We've seen positive efforts from leaders such as Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), who has worked tirelessly to strengthen penalties against traffickers and empower survivors. But these efforts will be severely undermined if law enforcement loses access to these vital investigative tools.

As a survivor and advocate, I implore the CFPB to reconsider this proposal. The credit header information and criminal records accessed through already highly regulated channels are not just data points — they are lifelines for victims. They represent the difference between rescue and continued torment, between life and death.

To the CFPB, I say this: Your proposal, while perhaps well-intentioned, could have catastrophic consequences. Every day that passes with restricted access to these tools is another day that traffickers operate with impunity, another day that victims suffer needlessly.

To the public, I urge vigilance and action. As we welcome the excitement of F1 to Las Vegas, we must also stand guard against the darker elements it will attract. Report suspicious activity. Be aware of the signs of trafficking. And most importantly, raise your voices against any measure that would hinder the rescue of victims.

The roar of F1 engines should not drown out the silent cries of trafficking victims. The CFPB must work with law enforcement to ensure that the tools that saved my life remain accessible, so that other victims can be spared the horror I endured. In the race against human trafficking, we cannot afford to lose momentum. Lives depend on it.

Alicia “Kozak” Kozakiewicz is a motivational speaker, internet safety expert and victim and missing persons advocate. After becoming the victim of an internet luring and abduction, and being rescued by the FBI, she created The Alicia Project, a platform for internet safety and awareness education.

The Nevada Independent welcomes informed, cogent rebuttals to opinion pieces such as this. Send them to submissions@thenvindy.com.