Both pleaded guilty. Celeste Burgess and her mother Jessica Burgess are at risk of going to prison for having performed an illegal abortion in the US state of Nebraska, indicates the US media TechCrunch. The matter took place last summer and has become a symbol in the United States.
Following the revocation of the right to abortion in the country, the web giants have been strongly called upon to protect women who wish to abort. Between menstruation tracking apps, fake videos on YouTube, or even information collected by Google, many companies have been singled out for their ability to identify citizens who want to terminate a pregnancy.
But weeks after the Supreme Court ruling, Celeste Burgess, then 17, performed an illegal abortion. She terminated her pregnancy with the help of her mother, Jessica Burgess, after more than 20 weeks gestation when the state of Nebraska only allows up to 12 weeks.
Private messages on Facebook
If this act was illegal, even before the revocation of the right to abortion, it allowed to illustrate the role that platforms could play in this type of business. Because her mother and daughter used Facebook to organize. And her accusation is based mainly on her private messages exchanged on the social network.
These discussions were provided by Facebook at the request of the authorities. This case had also reignited a debate about end-to-end encryption. This technology makes it possible for any private conversation to be inaccessible to anyone who is not part of the exchange.
Before the judge in early July, Jessica Burgess admitted to helping her daughter by providing her with abortion pills. She also admitted to participating in the destruction of the fetus by burning and burying it. Her mother was charged with two felonies and one misdemeanor. The verdict will be delivered on September 22, 2023 and could, according to the US principle of cumulative sentences, reach up to five years in prison, TechCrunch details.
For her part, Celeste Burgess – now 18 years old – was tried as an adult in May. She admitted to the charges against her by pleading guilty, like her mother. Her conviction for kidnapping, concealment and abandonment of her body could lead to up to two years in prison.
Source: BFM TV
