Additional efforts through research, prevention strategies, and improved legal frameworks — as demonstrated by the HEROES project — are necessary to address the worsening problem of online child exploitation
Thanks to the proliferation of online access around the world, the exploitation of children, especially on the internet, is getting worse. In fact, analysis of INTERPOL’s Child Sexual Exploitation database of unidentified children revealed that more than 60% of unidentified victims were prepubescent, including infants and toddlers; and 84% of images on the database contained explicit sexual activity, according to a joint report published by INTERPOL and ECPAT International in February 2018.
Since then, children accounted for 38% of victims detected globally, and since 2019 there has been an increase of approximately 38% in recorded child victims, according to a recent United Nations report on human trafficking.
To combat this growing issue, the HEROES project, which is part of the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program funded by the European Commission, collaborated on a cross-jurisdictional initiative aimed at addressing human trafficking and child sexual abuse, including that which occurs online.
According to Ivanka Hainzl, an anti-trafficking expert at the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), the project brings together a diverse consortium comprised of 24 partners in 17 countries, international organizations, civil society groups, research institutes, and educational institutions. ICMPD’s work is focused on research and prevention strategies developed with partner organizations in Spain, the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, and Colombia. These four countries were selected to provide varied perspectives and approaches to tackling these issues.
Study reveals common factors
The HEROES Project identified several common factors across the countries studied that place children at risk of online sexual exploitation and abuse. Some of these factors include:
Environments with emotional neglect — Children lacking emotional support from dysfunctional family backgrounds consistently appear most susceptible to exploitation, according to Hainzl. In particular, adolescents and teenagers represent a particularly vulnerable demographic due to their developmental stage and increasing online presence. While girls are targeted more frequently, boys are not exempt from these dangers. Similarly, children with psychological or emotional challenges, including those experiencing isolation or loneliness, also faced heightened risk as they may seek connection online, according to the project’s findings.
Perpetrators using similar tactics to exploit victims online — Research on child sexual abuse reveals important distinctions between online and offline exploitation patterns. In many cases, child abuse and child sexual abuse is often perpetrated or initiated by individuals close to the child, including family members or acquaintances, and may correlate with socioeconomic factors. By contrast, online harassment often involves strangers contacting numerous potential victims simultaneously and pursuing those who respond. This distinction highlights the different mechanisms of exploitation that protection frameworks must address.
Economic vulnerability — Financially disadvantaged households also had higher levels of exploitation across the studied countries. Poverty and economic inequality create conditions in which children and families become vulnerable to various forms of abuse and exploitation.
Gaps in implementation of legal frameworks — While legal frameworks often exist on paper, inadequate implementation remains a critical issue, with authorities frequently lacking resources or training to enforce existing laws. Underdeveloped protection and migration services further compound these problems by failing to identify potential victims or provide adequate support.
Legal and judicial challenges
The rapid evolution of online technologies and reliance on digital tools by a growing number of people across the globe have brought about a new wave of child exploitation challenges for law enforcement agencies and judicial systems worldwide. As the internet knows no borders, the complexities of investigating and prosecuting online crimes that involve multiple jurisdictions, varying legal frameworks, and ever-changing digital landscapes have created significant obstacles for authorities.
Also, one of the most pressing issues is the inconsistency in the terminology and legal definitions related to child sexual abuse among countries. “There is a problem that is noticed in the terminology being different, especially when it comes to cross-border cases,” says Hainzl adding that this creates confusion in prosecution efforts. And while many countries have legislation addressing human trafficking and child sexual abuse, these laws often lack provisions specifically tailored to online aspects of these crimes.
Further, law enforcement agencies face numerous technical obstacles when investigating online exploitation. Encrypted communications, rapidly changing online behaviors, and difficulties in obtaining and preserving digital evidence all impede successful investigations. “Law enforcement should be able to respond to this very quick and very often, but it is not possible because of a lack of knowledge on current and changing tactics and tools, technology, and equipment,” explains Hainzl.
The global fight continues
The global fight against online child sexual abuse requires coordinated international action across multiple fronts. One fundamental starting point would be the development of a common international definition for online child sexual abuse, similar to how the UN Palermo Protocol established a unified understanding of human trafficking, Hainzl says.
In addition, comprehensive training programs for law enforcement and all responsible professionals are essential along with efforts to raise public awareness about online risks. Educational initiatives must target children directly, teaching them to recognize potential dangers in online interactions.
The corporate sector bears significant responsibility in this fight because their platforms often facilitate exploitation. Already, proactive identification systems using algorithms to detect potential cases represent a shift from purely reactive approaches to prevention-focused strategies. And developing regulatory frameworks similar to their own corporate sustainability due diligence requirements could hold companies accountable for monitoring and preventing exploitation on their platforms, says Hainzl.
You can find more on this topic in the Thomson Reuters Institute’s Human Rights Crimes Resource Center
