2023 Was ‘Most Extreme Year On Record’ For Child Sex Abuse Online, Charity Warns
2023 Was 'Most Extreme Year On Record' For Child Sex Abuse Online, Charity Warns Forbes
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Topline
Last year was the “most extreme year on record” for child sexual abuse online, according to a report by U.K.-based charity Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). The report highlighted a disturbing rise in explicit materials that predators coerced victims into making. The IWF urged tech companies and online platforms to take swift action to address this issue, as regulation has been slow and the dangers from artificial intelligence are increasing.
Key Facts
The IWF found a record number of 275,652 webpages containing, advertising or linking to child sexual abuse imagery in 2023.
Nearly all of these webpages (92%) contained self-generated content, where victims had been coerced, blackmailed, or groomed into performing sexual acts over a webcam.
The figure was obtained through proactive searching and analyzing nearly 400,000 reports from more than 50 reporting portals around the world. It marks an 8% increase from the previous year.
Around 15% of these websites, 41,502 URLs, were hosted in the United States, making it the second-highest hosting country after the Netherlands.
The IWF found 2,401 self-generated images and videos of children ages three to six, with the majority being girls. This highlights how predators are increasingly targeting young children and manipulating them into acts of sexual abuse online.
The IWF called for immediate action from tech companies and online platforms to implement stronger safeguards for children online, rather than waiting for government regulations to take effect.
Tangent
The IWF report also highlighted that child sexual abuse material is becoming more extreme. There was a 22% increase in webpages containing the most severe kinds of sexual abuse in 2023 compared to the previous year. The report also noted a 38% increase in this type of imagery since 2021. Cases of sextortion, where children are blackmailed for more images or money, are also on the rise.
Surprising Fact
The IWF warned that generative AI is becoming a growing threat to children online. In 2023, the IWF processed webpages that contained AI-generated images of child sexual abuse, some of which were indistinguishable from real images. The charity also found a manual on the dark web encouraging predators to use AI-altered images to blackmail children into sending explicit content.
Further Reading
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
-
SDG 5: Gender Equality
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
- Indicator: Increase in the number of webpages containing child sexual abuse imagery.
- Indicator: Increase in the number of self-generated images and videos of children ages three to six.
- Indicator: Increase in the number of actionable sextortion cases.
-
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
- Indicator: Increase in the number of webpages containing child sexual abuse imagery.
- Indicator: Increase in the number of self-generated images and videos of children ages three to six.
- Indicator: Increase in the number of actionable sextortion cases.
- Indicator: Increase in the number of webpages containing Category A material (most severe kinds of sexual abuse).
- Indicator: Increase in the number of webpages containing AI-generated images of child sexual abuse.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. |
|
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. |
|
Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 5: Gender Equality and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets under SDG 5 are Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. The specific targets under SDG 16 are Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include an increase in the number of webpages containing child sexual abuse imagery, an increase in the number of self-generated images and videos of children ages three to six, an increase in the number of actionable sextortion cases, an increase in the number of webpages containing Category A material (most severe kinds of sexual abuse), and an increase in the number of webpages containing AI-generated images of child sexual abuse.
The article mentions that the Internet Watch Foundation found a record number of webpages containing child sexual abuse imagery, self-generated images and videos of young children being coerced into sexual acts, and a rise in actionable sextortion cases. It also highlights the increase in webpages containing Category A material and AI-generated images of child sexual abuse. These indicators reflect the severity and prevalence of child sexual abuse online.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. |
|
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. |
|
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Source: forbes.com
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