A fresh study from the Childlight Global Child Safety Institute at the University of Edinburgh has brought attention to a distressing global issue: more than 300 million children worldwide are subjected to online sexual exploitation and abuse annually. This staggering figure, equivalent to one out of every eight children on the planet, underscores the pervasive nature of this troubling phenomenon.

The investigation carried out by researchers at the University of Edinburgh revealed the alarming prevalence of online sexual abuse targeting minors. Unsettlingly, within the last year alone, millions of young individuals have fallen victim to the non-consensual capturing, distribution, and exposure of sexual images and videos.

In addition to instances of unauthorized dissemination of sexual content, the report shed light on a comparable number of cases involving solicitation, encompassing unwelcome sexting and requests for sexual activities from both adults and fellow youths. These offenses encompass a spectrum of misconduct, ranging from sextortion, where perpetrators demand money from victims to prevent the disclosure of intimate images, to the malicious manipulation of AI technology to fabricate deepfake videos and photographs.

While the research indicated that the issue transcends geographical boundaries, it suggested that the United States presents a particularly high-risk environment, with one in nine men in the country acknowledging engagement in online offenses against children at some point.

By examining millions of reports from leading global watchdog and law enforcement entities such as the Internet Watch Foundation, the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, the International Association of Internet Hotlines, and Interpol’s International Child Sexual Exploitation database, the researchers gained valuable insights into the nature of child sexual abuse materials disseminated online.

The study unveiled disconcerting statistics, revealing that nearly 13 percent of the global child population has endured non-consensual exposure to sexual content, while slightly over 12 percent of children worldwide have encountered online solicitation, including unwanted sexual interactions like non-consensual sexting and inappropriate advances from adults or peers.

The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issue by altering internet usage patterns globally. As per a 2023 report by the Internet Watch Foundation, the study disclosed a disturbing surge in child sexual abuse materials depicting primary school children aged seven to ten being coerced into performing sexual acts online, witnessing an alarming spike of over 1,000 percent since the UK enforced lockdown measures.

The researchers underscored that the pandemic-induced reliance on digital platforms for education, social interaction, and entertainment has inadvertently provided a breeding ground for internet predators to manipulate and coerce children into engaging in sexual activities, sometimes even involving their friends or siblings via webcams and smartphones.

Significantly, the researchers noted a marked uptick in incidents of “financial sextortion,” where children are blackmailed over images abusers deceitfully obtained, often culminating in tragic outcomes such as a surge in suicides globally. Notably, this form of exploitation frequently leverages AI deep fake technology, exemplified by its misuse to fabricate false explicit images involving public figures like singer Taylor Swift.

The study estimated that slightly above 3 percent of children globally encountered sexual extortion within the past year, underscoring the pressing need for concerted efforts to combat this unsettling trend.

“Child abuse material is so prevalent that files are on average reported to watchdog and policing organisations once every second,” stated Childlight chief executive Paul Stanfield.

“This is a global health pandemic that has remained hidden for far too long. It occurs in every country, it’s growing exponentially, and it requires a global response,” he noted.

A recent report highlights the growing threat of sextortion scams targeting British teenagers, particularly boys, following a warning from UK police last month about criminal gangs in West Africa and Southeast Asia.

According to NGOs and law enforcement, cases of sextortion against teenage boys are surging globally. In response, Britain’s National Crime Agency issued a warning to hundreds of thousands of teachers, urging them to be aware of the risks their students face.

The scammers typically pose as young people, initiating contact on social media before moving to encrypted messaging apps and manipulating victims into sharing explicit images.

“They often make their blackmail demands within an hour of making contact and are motivated by extorting as much money as possible rather than sexual gratification,” the NCA further revealed.