A recent study by the University of Edinburgh unveiled the alarming statistic that more than 300 million children worldwide encounter online sexual exploitation and abuse each year. The research exposed the prevalence of non-consensual sharing of sexual content, online solicitation, ‘sextortion’, and AI deepfake technology as forms of abuse affecting young individuals globally.
A study conducted by the University of Edinburgh, released on May 26, 2024, reveals that more than 300 million children globally experience online sexual exploitation and abuse annually. Researchers found that 12.6% of the world’s children have been subjected to non-consensual sharing of sexual images and videos in the past year, affecting approximately 302 million young individuals.
The study highlights that 12.5% of children have faced online solicitation, including unwanted sexual conversations, sexting, and sexual act requests. Additional forms of abuse include “sextortion” and exploitation via AI deepfake technology.
The United States was identified as a high-risk area, with one in nine men, around 14 million, admitting to online offenses against children. In the UK, 7% of men, or 1.8 million, confessed to similar actions. Childlight, the university’s initiative, reports that child abuse material is so prevalent that it is reported to watchdog organizations every second.
Paul Stanfield, CEO of Childlight, emphasized the magnitude of this issue, comparing the number of offenders in the UK to a line stretching from Glasgow to London or filling Wembley Stadium 20 times. Stephen Kavanagh of Interpol and Grace Tame, a survivor and advocate, both stressed the need for global cooperation, better data sharing, and stronger regulations to combat this problem effectively.
