No age group, gender or online platform is immune from the risks of online child sexual exploitation. Photo: File.
Every day, an average 275 reports of online child sexual exploitation are made to the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation.
Online child sexual exploitation is where children are manipulated, exploited or sexually abused through the use of the internet, digital devices or other technology. It includes online grooming, sexual extortion through requesting intimate images and blackmail, to the livestreaming of child sexual abuse.
As technology and AI use continues to evolve, so too does the scope and reach of offenders. They can now target children and teenagers in their homes in just minutes.
“We don’t want parents and carers to fear their children being online, because there’s so much amazing stuff they can do, discover and learn,” AFP Commander Human Exploitation Joanne Cameron said.
“But we also have to be realistic about where the risks lie, the same as we do in the offline world. In the time it takes a parent or carer to make a cup of coffee, a young person sitting in their bedroom could have been groomed and convinced to send compromising material, which could then be used against them.”
In total, 100,194 reports of online child sexual exploitation (OCSE) were made to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) in the 2025-26 financial year – about a 21 per cent increase on the previous financial year’s total of 82,764 reports.
Commander Cameron said the figures didn’t necessarily equate to a corresponding rise in offending – as greater education and awareness also contributed to stronger reporting of OCSE – but they did show just how important conversations about online safety mattered.
“Every report of online child sexual exploitation we receive is a report too many, as it represents unimaginable trauma for victims at the hands of offenders who don’t have the slightest remorse about the harm they cause,” she said.
“It’s predatory, it’s horrific and it ruins lives.”
Like all jurisdictions, the Territory has seen an increase in the number of reports being made by targeted Canberrans.
But there’s no pattern in who will be targeted, or where.
“Children are incredibly savvy … at using a range of online platforms,” ACT Policing Detective Acting Inspector Amy Lindner said.
“Unfortunately there’s no one platform that’s higher risk than another [and we’re] seeing this across the board, [targeting] all ages.
“And predominately, it’s strangers.”
Just as children learn how to use the next gaming platform or online device, so too do the offenders looking for their next target.
But a blanket rule of banning anything that connects to the internet probably isn’t plausible.
“It’s so hard as a parent, as [being online] is so important to a child’s social engagement these days,” Det A/Insp Lindner said.
“But they can be incredibly naive at times.”
If a child meets a stranger through an online game, that already gives the offender a common interest with which to create a bond.
So how can parents protect their children and teenagers online?
“Children do need to know how to use technology … it’s really not realistic to not allow them online,” Det A/Insp Lindner acknowledged.
“It’s about what we can put in place to reduce their risks of being exploited.”
The ACCCE has created a list of steps parents, families and caregivers can take to help keep their children safer online.
These include researching the different parental control options available on each app, game or platform being used (then implementing them), restricting any direct message functions, educating your children on any block and report functions, and considering turning off the voice chat on any games they play as well. If you can’t, enable speakers so all conversations can be overheard.
Having regular discussions with children to build up mutual knowledge and awareness about what happens online is also important, and expand what you talk about as they grow older.
Encourage and teach children how to critically think, and run through scenarios where identifying information could accidentally be shared. Make them question new friend or follower requests, or online contact from unknown users, and make sure they have usernames that don’t give away personal information (such as their first name or year of birth).
If they are asked to share intimate images, or someone starts a sexually inappropriate conversation with them, help them learn how to say no and how to capture the evidence (such as screenshots and usernames) so it can be shared with authorities.
And have those conversations so children know who they can go to if something goes wrong online – so they know they’ll be supported, not punished, for asking for help.
Sextortion is a form of online child sexual exploitation. It can escalate quickly from innocent conversation to demands and threats once images have been shared. Photo: ACCCE.
Many reports of online child sexual exploitation come from overseas, meaning local police cannot do much to apprehend the offenders.
But Det A/Insp Lindner said it was still important to gather evidence and let the authorities know, as they could offer support.
“Our intention is to do no further harm; we’re very mindful that children exposed to harm … could be experiencing shame and fear,” she explained.
“If we can access the device and communications, make copies of those … we can use that information to protect other children [as we can make] referrals to our international partners.
“We really need that information to protect other families.”
If you think a child is in immediate danger, call triple zero (000) or your local police. If you prefer to report anonymously, you can visit Crime Stoppers or call 1800 333 000.
More information about how and what to report can be found through the ACCCE. More information about how to have age-appropriate conversations about online safety, and other tips, can be found here.
