Scientology Accused of Exploiting Children as Young as 13 (youtube.com)

Inside Scientology's alleged child labor allegations: What is life really like inside the Church of Scientology for the children born in it? Dr. Steven Hassan goes LIVE with Scientology expert Jon Atack to examine recent investigation exposing how children as young as 13 are allegedly being forced to work inside a Scientology church in Edinburgh. Dr. Steven Hassan goes LIVE with Jon Atack, longtime Scientology critic, author, and one of the most experienced researchers and commentators on Scientology and authoritarian cult groups. Their conversation follows a major investigation published by The Times on August 13, 2026, reporting that children as young as 13 have been involved in daily activities at Scientology's Hubbard Academy of Personal Independence (HAPI) in Edinburgh. The investigation describes children being forced into child labor, signing documents described internally as “staff contracts,” receiving small allowances, and participating in administrative, training, recruitment, and other activities. Scientology has previously disputed The Times' characterization, stating that no person under 16 is a member of staff and describing the arrangements as voluntary religious participation. These revelations also call other practices into question such as homeschooling, the pressure from the larger organization to increase staff numbers, the use of the E-meter in training and security checks, and the powerful social pressures that can make leaving a high-control group difficult. Drawing on Jon Atack's firsthand experience inside Scientology and Dr. Hassan's decades of expertise studying cults, coercive control, mind control, and authoritarian influence, this livestream will examine what these new allegations reveal about Scientology's treatment of young people and the psychological blocks that can keep people trapped inside cults & high-control groups. Dr. Steven Hassan and Jon Atack will explore: - The Times investigation into Scientology's use of children as "staff" - Why children as young as 13 were reportedly coming to the Edinburgh church on a daily basis instead of going to school - Scientology's beliefs regarding age, children, and "suppressive persons," including some recent revelations about Tom Cruise's estranged children - Scientology's response and how the shield of voluntary religious participation protects cults from being subject to child labor laws - The reported use of “staff contracts,” allowances, work expectations, and recruitment targets - How homeschooling can act as a form of isolation & control while keeping a child open and available for exploitation - What Jon Atack experienced during his years inside Scientology - The belief system of Scientology & L. Ron Hubbard's doctrine - How scientology uses "personality tests" to lure and recruit new followers - “Suppressive persons” and the practice of “disconnection” from people considered harmful to the organization - How social isolation and fear of losing family and community can make leaving a cult seem unthinkable for those trapped inside - How the BITE Model helps explain behavior, information, thought, and emotional control 📖 Read The Times investigation on Scientology's Child Labor Practices: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/article/scientology-employs-children-investigation-l-ron-hubbard-d2bv6prss 📚 Check out Jon Atack's most recent book, If Scientology Ruled the World: https://amzn.to/4hyJbL6 📅 LIVE Friday, August 14, 2026 at 2:00 PM Eastern Time | 11:00 AM Pacific Time 👉 Like, subscribe, and share to support important, timely discussions about Scientology, cults, mind control, coercive control, and authoritarian influence. 🔴 Join us LIVE to ask questions, share your perspective, and be part of the conversation! #StevenHassan #JonAtack #Scientology #ScientologyCult #ScientologyExposed #ScientologyInvestigation #LRonHubbard #Dianetics #MindControl #Brainwashing #CoerciveControl #BITEModel #Cults #HighControlGroups #ScientologyChildren #ChildLabor #Authoritarianism #PsychologicalManipulation ******************************************** Learn more at: https://freedomofmind.com/ Subscribe to The Influence Continuum podcast: https://freedomofmind.com/podcast-3/ Enroll in our courses - https://courses.freedomofmind.com/collections Download a .pdf of the BITE model here! https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model/ Subscribe to the Freedom of Mind newsletter: https://freedomofmind.com/subscribe/ Read or listen to Dr. Hassan's books: https://freedomofmind.com/books/