Online Sexual Exploitation of Children
Latest: Survivors' call for action on UK Online Safety Bill
THE PROBLEM
Online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) is a crime which sees children sexually abused in real-time by traffickers who spread or sell images or videos of the exploitation online—even livestreaming the abuse for sex offenders anywhere in the world.
The UK is the third largest global consumer of livestreamed abuse. This crime remains largely undetected and underreported. Today, abusers located anywhere in the world can exploit children without ever leaving their homes
Since 2011, IJM has partnered with the Philippine Government, international law enforcement, and NGOs to stop online child sexual exploitation. IJM has supported dedicated law enforcement partners in the Philippines in over 240 operations, leading to over 820 victims or at-risk individuals being brought to safety, the arrest of over 290 suspected traffickers, and the conviction of more than 120 perpetrators, with prosecutions ongoing.
WHY IS THE UK ONLINE SAFETY BILL SO IMPORTANT?
The UK Online Safety Bill is a crucial building block in achieving the reality of a safer internet for children.
The UK Online Safety Bill is an important and positive step forward, as it places duties of care on tech platforms to tackle the dissemination of child abuse materials.
However, it does not yet go far enough in requiring action be taken to prevent the production of new child abuse material through livestreaming. The Bill needs to go further in recognising that these platforms aren’t just where abusive material is published, the platforms are used as tools to commit abuse. IJM recommends that the bill strengthens measures around the production of new materials (including livestreaming) and enforcement action to protect children around the world.
HOW IJM IS WORKING TO STOP ONLINE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN
End the supply of online sexual exploitation
IJM is partnering with the Philippine government to innovate new methods of combatting this crime, particularly the livestreamed abuse of children by traffickers.
Together, we’re bringing children to safety, holding perpetrators accountable under the law, providing aftercare for survivors and developing sustainable solutions to protect Philippine children.
Meanwhile, IJM is equipping governments in other source countries, including the UK, to end online sexual exploitation of children.
End the demand for online child exploitation
IJM is partnering with governments, corporations and organisations and championing global collaboration between law enforcement, the financial sector and technology platforms to prioritise protecting children from this crime.
We’re calling on these stakeholders to use artificial intelligence to improve reporting of this crime in real-time—leading to better data to measure prevalence and to identify and rescue victims.
Similarly, we’re advocating for governments to provide guidelines and accountability to the private sector for implementing best-practices in protecting children.
Deter criminals and protect children
As criminals—on both the supply and demand side—see perpetrators facing consequences under the law, many criminals will choose to stop exploiting children.
IJM and partners create customised care plans for each survivor, and we work with the government social services agency and private aftercare providers to ensure children have a safe place to grow up in freedom.