IWF warns of siblings being groomed for sexual abuse online
The Internet Watch Foundation warns of an emerging trend of online child sexual abuse where the criminals and paedophiles are attempting to groom and exploit young siblings. Between September and December 2020, IWF observed 511 cases involving siblings aged between 3-16 years, who were being groomed to copy adult pornography. Most of the videos that IWF found were of children from the West including the UK, US and Europe, debunking the “common myth” that such exploitation only happens in poorer countries. IWF attributes this rise in child abuse online to a greater demand for abusive content; more time spent by children online and rise in the use of livestreaming platforms.
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