Online child sexual abuse surges by 26% in year as police say tech firms must act

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Rachel HallDecember 11, 2025 at 01:01 AM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

Online child sexual abuse in England and Wales surged by 26% in 2024, accounting for 42% of all child sexual exploitation offenses, according to police statistics. A total of 51,672 online crimes were recorded, with half being child-on-child offenses, primarily involving the sharing of indecent imagery. Police are urging tech companies to implement AI and other protective measures to prevent the uploading and sharing of such content on their platforms. Snapchat, WhatsApp, and Instagram were the most commonly used platforms in reported offenses. Experts suggest the rise may be due to increased reporting in anticipation of the Online Safety Act, but also indicate a growing prevalence of these crimes, including emerging threats like sextortion.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

England and Wales ×250% National Police Chiefs' Council 60% Becky Riggs 70% Staffordshire police ×280%

Keywords

online child sexual abuse 100% child sexual exploitation 90% social media platforms 80% indecent imagery 70% ai tools 60% child protection 60% online safety act 50% sextortion 50% message encryption 40% child-on-child abuse 40%