[s1e18] Chat Room -

This episode, which originally aired on April 14, 2000 , is a notable early look at the dangers of the internet through the lens of the SVU squad. Plot Summary

The investigation takes a darker turn when Karen's online activities lead the squad into an internet chat room frequented by pedophiles. The detectives set up a sting operation to catch a prominent predator known as "The Yachtsman" (guest star Reed Birney). The case highlights the early challenges of prosecuting crimes in cyberspace and features a jurisdictional clash when the FBI's own secret sting operation is nearly compromised by the local police investigation. Original Air Date: April 14, 2000 [S1E18] Chat Room

The episode begins with 16-year-old Karen Raye claiming she was raped on a street corner. However, Detectives Benson and Stabler soon discover she fabricated the story to hide a consensual relationship with her 21-year-old boyfriend from her mother. This episode, which originally aired on April 14,