Latest news with #onlineexploitation
CNA
10-06-2025
- Politics
- CNA
EU working on stricter online safety guidelines to better protect children
BRUSSELS: The European Union is finalising new guidelines aimed at enhancing the protection of children in digital spaces, amid an alarming rise in online child exploitation cases. The bloc on Tuesday (Jun 10) marked the end of a month-long consultation with technology companies, academics, policymakers and other stakeholders. The EU is set to adopt a comprehensive set of safety measures under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The proposals include age assurance measures, allowing children to block other users, and making minors' accounts private by default. With more than 300 million children falling victim to online sexual extortion each year, EU lawmakers have emphasised child safety as a top priority in the region. But the proposed stricter regulations have sparked concerns that it could worsen tensions with Silicon Valley and United States President Donald Trump's administration. RISING THREATS Cases of online sexual exploitation of minors have roughly tripled since 2018, according to Child Focus – a Belgian foundation that supports the prevention and investigation of missing, abducted and runaway children, as well as those who are sexually abused and exploited. It operates a 24/7 call centre dedicated to the prevention and investigation of sexual or harmful contact online, as well as a tipline to report cases of suspicious activity or material. 'We see, definitely, a huge increase in online interactions of children. We see also younger children being online,' noted the organisation's policy advisor Tijana Popovic. 'But also at the same time, what we see is that offenders are able to misuse online spacers better in order to offend, and these spaces are not always under the monitoring of the authorities.' Popovic also emphasised the need for more comprehensive guidelines in an increasingly digital world. 'We see that a lot of these platforms have actually been built with another public in mind, but we see that more children are using these spaces and that these spaces are not designed with children in mind and with their needs in mind,' she added. Jan Penfrat, senior policy advisor at the European Digital Rights advocacy group, said that while the new guidelines should not infringe on people's rights, online platforms should address issues like screen addiction. 'They need to make sure that all the functionality that their platforms have or the incentives that they create are actually fit for purpose and are not actively harmful to children and that is not the case today,' she added. TENSIONS WITH US TECH FIRMS, GOVERNMENT Meta, the parent company of Facebook, previously clashed with the European Commission over allegations that their algorithms caused behavioural addictions in minors. The company said it has developed numerous tools to support parents and teens, and has worked hard to adapt to EU regulations. The Trump administration has vowed to defend US tech firms like Meta from regulations like the DSA and the Digital Markets Act. However, European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier told CNA that it is fully committed to the effective enforcement of both Acts, and that companies wishing to do business in the EU must respect the bloc's laws. Experts noted that the EU is the world's largest regulator with the power to take on tech giants. Singapore, Malaysia and the United Kingdom are among nations that have adopted online safety legislation in recent years. The EU will be the largest regulator to implement such measures, which the European Commission says will help online platforms shape a safer environment for children. Leanda Barrington-Leach, executive director of UK-based 5Rights Foundation, pointed out that the EU commands access to an 'enormous market' of 500 million consumers.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Every child will have contact with a stranger online'
Sophie was just 17 when she was contacted online by someone she believed to be a boy of her own age. Having just split from her boyfriend, Sophie - not her real name - admits she was feeling low and lacking self-confidence, so welcomed his attention. "He told me I was pretty and we chatted on and off for about a month or so on various social media platforms," she says. He asked her to send him some pictures, which she did. "I didn't think much of it," she says. He then told her she could make money from the pictures, and asked for more, including sexually explicit shots. "So I began sending him pictures of what he asked for. Before too long, it was videos and I was in way too deep," she says. Sophie realised something was amiss when people began to contact her to say they had seen the videos. The "boy" asked her for more photos and video, this time of her with others, and she never received any money. "I felt like I was in a mess and it was all too much," she says. Sophie is one of hundreds of people who have been helped by Bedford-based charity Link to Change. It offers help, support and guidance to young people aged from seven to 26 in four areas of exploitation: sexual, criminal, online and financial. Operating for 20 years, its clients are referred by organisations including police and schools, as well as parents. "At some point, every child will have contact with a stranger online," warns Hayley Brown, its chief executive. "Find me a young person that doesn't have a phone or a tablet, and if a young person has a phone or tablet, there is a way and means they can be contacted," she says. What is crucial, she adds, are the decisions made after that contact. "It's about being able to have those conversations with young people and make them aware of what's happening." "There needs to be more around what we are doing in society," says Ms Brown. "We can blame the social media companies; however, what we have is a generational gap, around young people, technology that they are using and parents' knowledge and understanding around that." Parents, she says, have a "fine line" to negotiate as young people's critical thinking will not be fully developed. "What they think might be a wise decision might not be a wise decision," she warns. Everyone, she says, needs to be aware of grooming "as it's a natural process" that builds trust. The groomer could be an older male, she says, but "could be their best friend, someone in their class, someone the same age as them". As the mother of a 13-year-old herself, she says: "There's an element of needing to trust my child but also being able to know and monitor what they are doing. "So many young people are scared to report something that's happened to them as they're scared of the trouble they'll get in. It's not the young person's fault. "They're not asked to be groomed. In society, we put the blame on children, but this is abuse; this child has been abused." If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, help and support is available via BBC Action Line. Demand for the charity's services are up: its referrals have increased by 233% in four years. "We are at a point where our waiting list is so high, we're having a battle with our capacity," Ms Brown says. But she says it is worth it, because the charity has a 98% success rate in helping people exit exploitation. "We will not close a young person's case until all aspects of their life are on track," she says. While it is still unclear who Sophie's groomer was, she says the support she received "helped change my life". "They helped me to understand what had happened to me - it wasn't my fault," she says. "I had one-to-one support for about eight months in total. "They helped not only with the exploitation, but to be able to build my confidence and self-esteem and my mental health struggles." James Simmonds-Read, national programme manager for The Children's Society, says online spaces can be "hugely positive" for young people. They can be places to learn, to connect and have fun, but can also be used by abusers to "exploit and groom". "That's why it is so important for adults to build open, trusting relationships where children can tell them anything without fear of judgement while also staying alert to signs of potential harm, and speaking up if something doesn't feel right," he says. "Children won't always realise they're being groomed - that's why adults need to stay switched on to the signs." These can include: Sudden changes in behaviour, particularly after time online Mentioning or meeting new friends they met on gaming or social apps Talking about offers of making "easy money" Being secretive or withdrawn about online activities He advises anyone with concerns to report them to the police and to contact the platform where any incidents of grooming, exploitation, or abuse are taking place. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. 'I was groomed and exploited at parties aged 14' Child sex abuse survivors demand ring-fenced funding New exploitation hub builds 'team around a child' Bedfordshire Violence and Exploitation Reduction The Children's Society Link To Change
BBC News
01-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
'Every child will have contact with a stranger online'
Sophie was just 17 when she was contacted online by someone she believed to be a boy of her own age. Having just split from her boyfriend, Sophie - not her real name - admits she was feeling low and lacking self-confidence, so welcomed his attention."He told me I was pretty and we chatted on and off for about a month or so on various social media platforms," she asked her to send him some pictures, which she did. "I didn't think much of it," she then told her she could make money from the pictures, and asked for more, including sexually explicit shots."So I began sending him pictures of what he asked for. Before too long, it was videos and I was in way too deep," she realised something was amiss when people began to contact her to say they had seen the "boy" asked her for more photos and video, this time of her with others, and she never received any money."I felt like I was in a mess and it was all too much," she says. Sophie is one of hundreds of people who have been helped by Bedford-based charity Link to offers help, support and guidance to young people aged from seven to 26 in four areas of exploitation: sexual, criminal, online and for 20 years, its clients are referred by organisations including police and schools, as well as parents. "At some point, every child will have contact with a stranger online," warns Hayley Brown, its chief executive."Find me a young person that doesn't have a phone or a tablet, and if a young person has a phone or tablet, there is a way and means they can be contacted," she is crucial, she adds, are the decisions made after that contact."It's about being able to have those conversations with young people and make them aware of what's happening." "There needs to be more around what we are doing in society," says Ms Brown."We can blame the social media companies; however, what we have is a generational gap, around young people, technology that they are using and parents' knowledge and understanding around that."Parents, she says, have a "fine line" to negotiate as young people's critical thinking will not be fully developed."What they think might be a wise decision might not be a wise decision," she warns. Everyone, she says, needs to be aware of grooming "as it's a natural process" that builds groomer could be an older male, she says, but "could be their best friend, someone in their class, someone the same age as them". As the mother of a 13-year-old herself, she says: "There's an element of needing to trust my child but also being able to know and monitor what they are doing."So many young people are scared to report something that's happened to them as they're scared of the trouble they'll get in. It's not the young person's fault."They're not asked to be groomed. In society, we put the blame on children, but this is abuse; this child has been abused." If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, help and support is available via BBC Action Line. Demand for the charity's services are up: its referrals have increased by 233% in four years."We are at a point where our waiting list is so high, we're having a battle with our capacity," Ms Brown she says it is worth it, because the charity has a 98% success rate in helping people exit exploitation. "We will not close a young person's case until all aspects of their life are on track," she says. While it is still unclear who Sophie's groomer was, she says the support she received "helped change my life". "They helped me to understand what had happened to me - it wasn't my fault," she says."I had one-to-one support for about eight months in total. "They helped not only with the exploitation, but to be able to build my confidence and self-esteem and my mental health struggles." James Simmonds-Read, national programme manager for The Children's Society, says online spaces can be "hugely positive" for young can be places to learn, to connect and have fun, but can also be used by abusers to "exploit and groom"."That's why it is so important for adults to build open, trusting relationships where children can tell them anything without fear of judgement while also staying alert to signs of potential harm, and speaking up if something doesn't feel right," he says."Children won't always realise they're being groomed - that's why adults need to stay switched on to the signs."These can include:Sudden changes in behaviour, particularly after time onlineMentioning or meeting new friends they met on gaming or social appsTalking about offers of making "easy money"Being secretive or withdrawn about online activitiesHe advises anyone with concerns to report them to the police and to contact the platform where any incidents of grooming, exploitation, or abuse are taking place. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
News.com.au
29-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
‘Sickening abuse': Darwin man allegedly paid to watch children raped live
Six children in the Philippines are now safe after authorities uncovered a disturbing case of online child abuse allegedly orchestrated by a Darwin man from a yacht and vehicle in the Northern Territory. The man faced Darwin Local Court on Tuesday charged with five serious offences, including allegedly instructing the abuse of children as young as six via live video from a remote location. The investigation began after Australian Border Force officers allegedly discovered child abuse material on the man's mobile phone during a baggage search when he arrived at Darwin Airport on New Year's Day. The matter was referred to the Northern Territory Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (NT JACET) who later executed a search warrant at Dinah Beach on January 3. The man was arrested after being found living between a vehicle and a yacht. Police allege forensic examination of his mobile device uncovered sexually explicit images and videos of children, along with video calls showing the man instructing facilitators in the Philippines to carry out child abuse while he watched live. NT JACET investigators passed information to Australian Federal Police officers in Manila, prompting a Philippines National Police operation in April. That led to the arrest of two suspects and the removal of six children from abusive environments. The Darwin man has been charged with two counts of sexual intercourse with a child outside Australia (maximum 20 years' imprisonment if convicted), two counts of sexual activity with a child outside Australia (maximum 20 years), and one count of possessing child abuse material (maximum 15 years). AFP Superintendent Greg Davis said protecting children was one of the AFP's highest priorities. 'All victims of child sexual exploitation experience lifelong harm because of the selfish actions of their abusers,' Superintendent Davis said. 'The AFP will continue to work closely with local, Commonwealth and international partners to protect children from sickening abuse and together identify offenders and bring them before the courts.' Philippines National Police Brigadier General Portia Manalad praised the co-operation between agencies. 'The PNP Women and Children Protection Centre will continue to locate alleged offenders and rescue victims with the assistance of our foreign partners,' she said. NT Police Senior Sergeant Toby Wilson said the community could be confident police were committed to pursuing offenders and protecting vulnerable children. ABF Commander Tracie Griffin said the case highlighted the critical role of frontline officers. 'Six children are safe because of their diligence and the work of our domestic and international law enforcement partners,' she said.
ABC News
23-05-2025
- ABC News
Perth man James Paul Ellis-Kendrick accused of posing as juvenile to manipulate underage girls
A 20-year-old man accused of posing as a juvenile online to manipulate three underage girls into sending him explicit images is free on bail as he awaits his next court appearance. James Paul Ellis-Kendrick from the northern Perth suburb of Carramar is accused of lying about his age and sexually exploiting children online. He allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conversations with three girls under the age of 16 on an instant messaging app. Police allege that after the victims sent images, he tried to manipulate them into sending more, and threatened to screenshot images sent by one girl when she refused. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said it started its investigation after receiving a report from the National Center For Missing And Exploited Children in the United States. After a six month investigation, Mr Ellis-Kendrick was arrested at his home in April and his mobile phone and computer was seized. He appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday morning, but was not required to plea to his three charges. The court heard that further analysis of Mr Ellis-Kendrick's devices was needed and the appropriateness of the charges in their current form had to be considered. Mr Ellis-Kendrick is scheduled to return to court in July. One of the charges he is facing carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. In announcing the arrest, AFP Inspector Shona Davis said parents needed to be diligent about their children speaking to strangers online. "They need to be reminded to never reveal personal information to anyone they communicate with online,'' she said.
