Sextortion cases are on the rise as criminals target younger children, warns the Internet Watch Foundation

Children as young as 11, as well as more girls, are now being targeted in an increasing number of sexual extortion cases, warns the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). Just in the first half of 2024, the IWF, a partner in the UK Safer Internet Centre, reported a 19% increase in child sexual abuse reports related to sexual extortion, also known as “sextortion”, compared to the same period in 2023.

Criminal gangs are targeting younger victims and girls, exposing them to violent threats, and making them feel humiliated and isolated. In extreme cases, some young people have taken their own lives because of the distress inflicted by criminals.  

Criminals will deceive or coerce young people into sharing sexual imagery, and then threaten the victims to share the content with their relatives and friends if they fail to make a payment.

The Report Remove helpline is a world-first service run by the IWF and Childline which allows young people to report their own images, to see if they can be taken off the internet. The IWF can also prevent these images from being shared on the open web by scammers or criminals.  

IWF’s Deputy CEO Heidi Kempster, said: “These crimes really do plumb the depths of cruelty and hatefulness. For the victims, being threatened like this can put them in a desperate, lonely place. They are children, and they are frightened. To them, I want to say, you are not alone, and you are not powerless. We are here to help.

“Report Remove can give children and young people back the power, and can be a ray of hope for the increasing numbers of children being snared by these criminals.

“We also want to see the Government bring forward legislation to ensure AI nudifying technology is not available to UK-based users, and to encourage other governments globally to take similar measures.”

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