The Metropolitan Police defines Sextortion as ‘… the short name for 'financially motivated sexual extortion’. It consists of blackmail online where people threaten to share sexual pictures, videos, or information about another person without their permission. The aim of the person sharing that information is to take money from the victim, or force them to do something else they don’t want to do.

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has identified that children as young as 11 are becoming victims of sextortion, and it is particularly impacting a larger number of girls than it has in previous years. 

Often, those sharing the information are not the original recipient of the data. For example, an individual may send such photos, videos or information to a partner or someone they believe they can trust, but that data is obtained by a criminal who goes on to threaten the victim.

In some cases, it is believed criminals are using AI “nudifying” technology to alter photos. 

New data released by IWF in August 2024 shows the following increasing statistics:

  • Child sexual abuse reports related to sexual extortion have increased by 19% in the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2023.
  • There was a 25% increase of incidents involving 14-15 years compared to the same period in 2023.
  • There were reports from younger children, between the ages of 11 and 13.
  • Most victims are boys however there has been a significant rise in reports involving girls. 
  • For the first six months of last year there were 75 reports of child sexual abuse imagery involving sextortion, whereas the first six months of this year, there was 89 confirmed reports. 
  • Children aged 16 and 17 still make up most of the victims, however, there has been a 25% increase in younger victims aged from 14 to 15.

Worryingly, the IWF has linked victims of sextortion with suicides, due to both the personal shame and stress imposed on the victims by the criminals which often includes violent threats. 

The rise in such claims is thought to be linked to the increasing methods and ability of those extorting their victims.

The ‘Report Remove’ helpline, which is run by both The IWF and Childline, gives individuals the option to report images of their own sexual abuse which can give IWF and Childline the option to pre-emptively block the imagery before criminals share them. 

The IWF is also seeking cooperation from the government in bringing forward bans on AI “nudifying” technology, which allows criminals to undress victims within photos. 

The National Crime Agency reports that many criminals are from outside the UK. However, they warn that those found to be involved will not escape prosecutions in the UK if found guilty.