Child sex reports hit 160 a day, says AFP
Children having more access to the internet has led to a record increase in the number of reported child exploitation cases.
Children having more access to the internet has led to a record increase in the amount of reported child exploitation material, with the Labor government urging tech companies to be more “proactive.”
The Australian Federal Police has revealed a shocking surge in child exploitation reports, driven by an uptake in internet access among children.
The Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), led by the AFP, recorded a 45 per cent rise in reports of online child exploitation over the past year. In its sixth year, the centre received more than 58,000 reports – an average of 160 a day.
The centre received 14,000 reports in its first year of operation.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said investigations were becoming harder as the volume and complexity of child exploitation material increases.
“We need technology companies to be proactive and take steps to minimise the risks their products pose to children and young people,” Mr Dreyfus said.
“The tech industry has a significant role to play in combating online child sexual exploitation and abuse and we are committed to working with them on that.”
AFP Commander of ACCCE and human exploitation Helen Schneider said there was both an increase in the amount of abuse perpetrated against children and the amount of community awareness surrounding the issue. “As more children and young people access the internet, we have seen an upwards trend in canvases of online child exploitation, ” Commander Schneider said.
“While the increase is confronting, authorities can only help those we know about so we continue to encourage parents and caregivers to engage with their children to talk about how they can remain safe online and learn how to report.
“Every one of those reports contains images and videos of real children being sexually abused or exploited for the sexual gratification of offenders.”
On average, the ACCCE received 4875 reports a month. The largest number of reports were received in November 2023, with 5947 incidents sent from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner and members of the public.
“We need to be acting as a community to be alive to the risks that may be facing our children, and prevent online child sexual exploitation – during National Child Protection Week and every week,” Commander Schneider said.
National Child Protection Week began on Sunday.
The record jump in reported cases comes after the eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant issued a warning that cloud services and messaging apps were becoming a “free haven for pedophiles”.
A recent global study estimated that more than 300 million children were victims of online sexual abuse and exploitation in 2023.
More Coverage
Immigration detention duty: minister Burke powers up
Immigration Minister Tony Burke has quietly issued new rules granting himself the power to impose electronic monitoring and curfews on dangerous non-citizens released from detention.
$42k taxpayer grant for anti-Israel artist
Matt Chun received a $42,452 taxpayer grant in May 2023 to publish a picture book. He previously co-wrote works that attacked ‘colonial and imperialist’ statues.