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{{Short description|Randomized online chat website}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox website
| name = Omegle
| logo = Logo Omegle.svg
| url = {{URL|https://www.omegle.com/}}
| commercial = No
| type = {{Plain list|
* [[Online chat]]
* [[Voice chat]]
* [[Videotelephony|Video chat]]
}}
| registration = No
| language = English
| owner = Omegle.com, LLC
| author = Leif K-Brooks
| industry = [[Internet]]
| country_of_origin = United States
| foundation = {{Start date|df=yes|2009|03|25}}
| dissolved = {{End date|df=yes|2023|11|8}}
| current_status = Discontinued/ Shut down
}}

'''Omegle''' ({{IPAc-en|oʊ|ˈ|m|ɛ|g|əl}}<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.omegle.com/ | title=Omegle | work=Omegle}}</ref>) was a free [[online chat]] website that allowed users to socialize with others without the need to [[Registered user|register]]. The service randomly paired users in one-on-one chat sessions where they would chat anonymously using the names "You" and "Stranger". It operated from 2009 to 2023.

==History==
The site was created by then 18-year-old Leif K-Brooks of [[Brattleboro, Vermont]], and was launched in March 2009.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/news-blogs/what-is-omegle-what-parents-need-to-know/ | title=What is Omegle? What parents need to know | work=[[Internet Matters]]}}</ref><ref name="thaindian">{{cite news | title=Omegle chat program can help you find love anonymously| url=https://www.oneindia.com/2009/04/14/omeglechat-program-can-help-you-find-loveanonymously.html | work=[[Oneindia]] | date=April 14, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430055240/http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/omegle-chat-program-can-help-you-find-love-anonymously_100179374.html| archive-date=30 April 2009| url-status=live}}</ref> Less than a month after launch, Omegle garnered around 150,000 [[page views]] per day.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/technology/internet/27omegle.html | title=Tired of Old Web Friends? A New Site | last=Quenqua | first=Douglas Promises Strangers | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=April 26, 2009 | url-access=limited | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909115846/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/technology/internet/27omegle.html| archive-date=September 9, 2018| url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2010, the site introduced a [[videotelephony]] feature.

Omegle criticized the [[Chinese Communist Party]], expressed support for the [[2019–20 Hong Kong protests]], and added an image of the American Flag on the front page with the words "[[Xi Jinping]] sure [[Censorship of Winnie-the-Pooh in China|looks like]] [[Winnie-the-Pooh]]" over it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://z6mag.com/2019/10/10/omegle-throws-jabs-at-china-xi-pooh/|title=Omegle throws jabs at China: 'Xi = Pooh!'|last=Restar|first=Al|date=10 October 2019|website=Z6 Mag|language=en|access-date=2 April 2021|archive-date=23 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123171608/https://z6mag.com/2019/10/10/omegle-throws-jabs-at-china-xi-pooh/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During the [[COVID-19 lockdowns]], the site increased in popularity, particularly with teenagers.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/24/style/omegle-random-video-chat.html | title=Oh, So We’re Doing Random Video Chat Again? | first=Taylor | last=Lorenz | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=March 1, 2021 | url-access=limited | archive-date=26 July 2020| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200726030435/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/24/style/omegle-random-video-chat.html| url-status=live}}</ref>

Originally, a 13-year-old could use the website with the permission of a parent or guardian.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.today.com/parents/what-omegle-why-are-children-it-t236335 | title=What is Omegle? What parents need to know about keeping kids safe online | first=Kait | last=Hanson | work=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]] | date=November 8, 2021}}</ref> In 2022, the rules were updated so that only those 18 or older were allowed to use the website.

On November 8, 2023, K-Brooks posted an announcement describing the challenges of running the site, and the ultimate decision to suspend the service. Challenges listed included online exploitation of children and attacks on communication services. K-Brooks concluded that his decision revolved around internet misuse and asked users to consider donating to the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] to combat misuse.

==Controversies==
Omegle was subject to a variety of controversies, generally surrounding illegal content, [[discrimination]], [[pornography]] and use of the site by [[minor (law)|minors]].

Prior to early 2013, the site did not [[Censorship|censor]] contributions through a [[profanity filter]], and users had reported encountering [[nudity]] or [[sexual content]] on camera.<ref name="bbctech">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8539701.stm|title=Chatroulette and Omegle: chat rooms with a twist|publisher=BBC News|date=24 March 2010|access-date=6 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720234434/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8539701.stm|archive-date=20 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Omegle implemented a "monitored" video chat, to monitor misbehavior and protect people under the age of 18 from potentially harmful content, including nudity or sexual content. However, the monitoring was not very effective, and users could often skirt around bans.<ref name="nobullying">{{cite web|url=http://nobullying.com/is-chatting-with-strangers-on-omegle-a-potential-stranger-danger-situation|title=A Chat with Strangers: Fun or Dangerous?|date=14 April 2015|access-date=20 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905130407/http://nobullying.com/is-chatting-with-strangers-on-omegle-a-potential-stranger-danger-situation/|archive-date=5 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> To complement the monitored video chat, Omegle also had an "unmonitored" video chat that was not monitored for sexual content.<ref name="omegleprivacy">{{cite web|url=http://omegle.com/static/privacy.html|title=Omegle privacy policy|date=1 February 2013|access-date=27 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303110042/http://www.omegle.com/static/privacy.html|archive-date=3 March 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> K-Brooks had acknowledged the questionable content of the site, at one time expressing disappointment at the way in which the site has been used.<ref name="bbctech"/>

Numerous advisories, bulletins and warnings were issued by both local and state law enforcement, as there had been major increases in reports of cyber-crime involving sexual exploitation of minors occurring on Omegle due to the popularity surge.<ref name="globalnews">{{cite web| url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7683360/covid-19-child-luring-sextortion-online-cases/| title=Child luring and sextortion cases online spike since start of pandemic| author=Slugoski, Kendra| publisher=Global News| date=9 March 2021| access-date=15 April 2022| archive-date=15 April 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415153736/https://globalnews.ca/news/7683360/covid-19-child-luring-sextortion-online-cases/| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/omegle-manitoba-lawsuit-1.6552554 | title=A website designed to talk to strangers has become a haven for child sex predators, expert says | first1=Kristin | last1=Annable | first2=Caroline | last2=Barghout | work=[[CBC News]] | date=August 25, 2022}}</ref>

===Discrimination===
Omegle was subject to controversy surrounding allegations of discrimination and [[alt-right]] content. The issue of [[racism]] in particular prevailed on the site, as did the issue of "redpilling", where users troll and harass minority groups and attempt to recruit new followers of their ideology. Users who were "redpilling" did several things, including shouting "[[white power]]" and performing a [[Nazi salute]], mocking someone's appearance, yelling slurs or asking questions about someone's ethnicity or religion.<ref name="adl"/>

In 2020, two teens conducted an experiment concerning racism on the site. They entered terms such as "[[Black Lives Matter|BLM]]", "[[Ku Klux Klan|KKK]]" and "racist" to match with users. They reported that a significant amount of users made racist remarks.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/racism-rampant-omegle-teens-are-working-hold-racist-trolls-accountable-n1251675 | title=Racism is rampant on Omegle. Teens are working to hold racist trolls accountable | website=[[NBC News]] | date=20 December 2020 | access-date=8 May 2023 | archive-date=8 May 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508070401/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/racism-rampant-omegle-teens-are-working-hold-racist-trolls-accountable-n1251675 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2020, a [[TikTok]] user named Johan Bradley posted a video in which two teenage boys referred to him as a "[[nigger]]" and a "[[slave]]" and made whipping noises. The pair were students of [[Shoreham-Wading River High School]] in [[Shoreham, New York]]. The school district's [[Superintendent (education)|superintendent]] said that disciplinary action would be taken against the students.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/racism-rampant-omegle-teens-are-working-hold-racist-trolls-accountable-n1251675 | title=Racism is rampant on Omegle. Teens are working to hold racist trolls accountable | website=[[NBC News]] | date=20 December 2020 | access-date=8 May 2023 | archive-date=8 May 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508070401/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/racism-rampant-omegle-teens-are-working-hold-racist-trolls-accountable-n1251675 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2020, the [[Anti-Defamation League]] began an investigation into [[antisemitism]] and [[far-right]] [[trolling]] on Omegle. An [[Australia]]n [[white supremacist]] and former [[YouTuber]] named Tor Brookes (who used the name "[[CatboyKami]]") popularised the site in far-right circles after he attended a "[[Stop the Steal]]" rally in [[Phoenix, Arizona]]. He has promoted [[conspiracy theories]] and [[far-right extremism]] on Omegle, as well as on platforms such as [[BitChute]], [[Discord]] and [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]], including a video of him mimicking the [[murder of George Floyd]]. He uses slurs in content and often wears costumes and makeup (including [[blackface]]) to mock other ethnic groups. In 2021, [[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] journalist Alex Mann identified Hedley as Tor Gustafsson Brookes and revealed that he is from [[Ipswich, Queensland]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/backgroundbriefing/catboykami-from-an-ipswich-bedroom-to-global-infamy/13466384 | title=A far-right troll's journey from an Ipswich bedroom to global infamy | website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | date=24 July 2021 | access-date=8 May 2023 | archive-date=11 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111163547/https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/backgroundbriefing/catboykami-from-an-ipswich-bedroom-to-global-infamy/13466384 | url-status=live }}</ref> Another prominent white supremacist on the site was [[GypsyCrusader|Paul Miller]], a [[Florida]]-based user from [[New Jersey]] who commonly dressed as the [[Joker (character)|Joker]] and the [[Riddler]]. As the Riddler, he said: "Riddle me this before you go. I'm loud and obnoxious. I like music that rhythms. I'm a fraction of the population but commit half the crimes. What am I? I'm a nigger!" and then laughed hysterically. [[Canada|Canadian]] white supremacist Brendan Martinez also uses the site for trolling and redpilling using a feature where users add their interests. Instead of adding his interests he adds terms such as "BLM" or "[[Joe Biden|Biden]]".<ref name="adl">{{cite web | url=https://www.adl.org/resources/blog/extremist-trolls-are-targeting-omegle-users-virulent-racism-antisemitism | title=Extremist Trolls are Targeting Omegle Users with Virulent Racism, Antisemitism | ADL | access-date=8 May 2023 | archive-date=15 May 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515234915/https://www.adl.org/resources/blog/extremist-trolls-are-targeting-omegle-users-virulent-racism-antisemitism | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Child pornography===
Omegle was subject to numerous controversies over [[child pornography]].

Omegle, at the time of its closure, faced a $22 million lawsuit which was filed in 2019 in [[Oregon]], in regard to a former user of the site who became a victim of child sex exploitation. In 2014, the then 11-year-old plaintiff logged onto Omegle and encountered a Canadian [[pedophile]] who blackmailed her into digital sexual slavery. The lawsuit alleges that Omegle knowingly allowed the pairing of minors with pedophiles due to a splash screen warning that stated "Predators have been known to use Omegle, so please be careful". Omegle has since removed this warning from the website.<ref name="nypost_am">{{cite web |url=https://nypost.com/2021/11/19/omegle-allowed-child-user-to-become-pedophiles-digital-sex-slave-suit/ |title=Omegle allowed child user to become pedophile's digital sex slave: suit |last=Fonrouge |first=Gabrielle |work=New York Post |date=19 November 2021 |access-date=15 April 2022 |archive-date=15 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415153736/https://nypost.com/2021/11/19/omegle-allowed-child-user-to-become-pedophiles-digital-sex-slave-suit/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="amom">{{cite court| litigants=A.M. v. Omegle.com LLC| court=United States District Court for the District of Oregon| date=2019}}</ref>

In 2020, a Canadian teacher was arrested at his home in [[Guelph]] after he broadcast child exploitation material on Omegle. He would plead guilty to several criminal charges in 2022.<ref name="gmt_am">{{cite web |url=https://www.guelphmercury.com/news/crime/guelph-man-can-no-longer-be-teacher-after-child-porn-conviction/article_7b1fca76-cef1-56e5-a9e7-cb9091ac43bb.html |title=Guelph man can no longer be teacher after child porn conviction |last=McNaughton |first=Graeme |work=Guelph Mercury Tribune |date=10 May 2023 |access-date=10 May 2023 |archive-date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701131501/https://www.guelphmercury.com/news/crime/guelph-man-can-no-longer-be-teacher-after-child-porn-conviction/article_7b1fca76-cef1-56e5-a9e7-cb9091ac43bb.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2021, an Australian man was arrested at his home on the [[Central Coast (New South Wales)|Central Coast]] of [[New South Wales]] after he allegedly used Omegle to advertise his search for child sex.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/crime/central-coast-man-charged-after-allegedly-procuring-child-for-sex-through-omegle/news-story/2e6a0d508000fd4843fdf88e7d77c704?amp |title=Central Coast man charged after allegedly procuring child for sex through Omegle |work=news.com.au |last=Ferri |first=Lauren |date=26 November 2021 |access-date=8 June 2023 |archive-date=2 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202112451/https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/crime/central-coast-man-charged-after-allegedly-procuring-child-for-sex-through-omegle/news-story/2e6a0d508000fd4843fdf88e7d77c704?amp |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Name==
According to Brooks, "I was working on a different project before Omegle, and it kept breaking due to an error from a third-party service it used. The error code wasn't documented, and I wanted a name for it, so I nicknamed it "error code omega" because it was sort of apocalyptic. Omegle was eventually named after that."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Founder of Omegle.com Answers Questions From Redditors |url=https://www.carnaghan.com/founder-of-omegle-com-answers-questions-from-redditors/ |website=Ian Carnaghan |date=2009-10-20 }}</ref>

== Dissolution ==
According to Brooks, he shut the website down stating constant events of [[rape]] and pornography associated with Omegle throughout it's history.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://omegle.com/
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231109003559/https://omegle.com/
| archive-date = 2023-11-09
| title = Omegle
| last = K-Brooks
| first = Leif
| date = 2023-11-08
| website = Omegle
| access-date = 2023-11-09
| url-status = live
| language = en
}}</ref>

On the website, Brooks stated ''"Omegle is the direct target of these attacks, but their ultimate victim is you: all of you out there who have used, or would have used, Omegle to improve your lives, and the lives of others. When they say Omegle shouldn’t exist, they are really saying that you shouldn’t be allowed to use it; that you shouldn’t be allowed to meet random new people online. That idea is anathema to the ideals I cherish – specifically, to the bedrock principle of a free society that, when restrictions are imposed to prevent crime, the burden of those restrictions must not be targeted at innocent victims or potential victims of crime."''

On the website. He later states that ''"...However, fear can also be a mental cage that keeps us from all of the things that make life worth living."'' which is something that Brooks felt he needed to say in concordance to the pattern of rape on and outside of Omegle.

==See also==
{{Portal|Internet}}
* [[Chatroulette]]
* [[Stickam]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|https://www.omegle.com/}}

[[Category:Chat websites]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2009]]
[[Category:Obscenity controversies]]
[[Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2023]]
[[Category:Defunct American websites]]

Omegle - Revision history

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