Reports of online child exploitation increased across many tech and media platforms

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported on 2 May 2023 that says of child exploitation online increased on many tech and social media companies last year, including Instagram, Google, TikTok, Twitch, Reddit, Omegle and Discord. The US child safety agency received over 32 million reports of online enticement, child sexual abuse material, and child sex trafficking in 2022, up 2.7 million from the previous year.

The agency noted that while child sexual abuse material was the largest category, online enticement reports increased by 82%, driven by rising financial sextortion, where children are targeted to share explicit photos and extorted for money. Providers of electronic services have a legal obligation to report child sexual abuse material to the Centre as soon as they become aware of it.