Praneeta Mahajan
Hamilton, April 23, 2024
As reports of online child exploitation surge, authorities in New Zealand are rallying parents, guardians, and young people to bolster their safety measures in the digital realm. The alarming rise in incidents, including sextortion and the circulation of sexually explicit material involving minors, has prompted urgent action from law enforcement and child protection agencies.
Surge in reported cases
According to data compiled between 2022 and 2023, New Zealand authorities received nearly 5000 additional referrals from the Cyber Tipline, a reporting platform operated by America’s National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Detective Senior Sergeant Kepal Richards, leading the charge for the New Zealand Police Online Child Exploitation Across New Zealand Team (OCEANZ) emphasised the severity of the issue, stating, “Reports from NCMEC which contain information about victims and online offenders here in New Zealand have almost quadrupled in the last five years alone. These latest statistics unfortunately are not surprising, but should be cause for increased concern.”
Highlighting the proactive approach taken by the New Zealand Police, Detective Richards revealed, “New Zealand Police currently receives around 200 referrals per month from NCMEC. Collaborating closely with agencies such as the Department of Internal Affairs and the New Zealand Customs Service, the police are intensifying efforts to combat this growing menace. Each referral received is meticulously evaluated by dedicated investigators within the OCEANZ team to swiftly identify cases necessitating immediate action to safeguard children or apprehend perpetrators.”
Part of a larger problem
Overall, NCMEC has received a total of 36.2 million Cyber Tipline Reports over the last year, up from 29.3 million reports in 2021 and 32 million in 2022.
Cases involving young New Zealanders, while only making up a small number of these reports, follow a very similar trend. Of the 36.2 million reports received by NCMEC, New Zealand agencies who work in this field, including DIA, Customs and Police, received 19,865 referrals in 2023, up from just over 15,000 in 2022.
These referrals encompass instances of sextortion and the dissemination of child sexual abuse material via online platforms and private messages.
Efforts to combat menacing problem
The scope of intervention by New Zealand agencies extends beyond arrests and charges, to include preventive measures, including educational visits and conversations, which are prioritised, especially when involving young individuals.
Simon Peterson, Chief Customs Officer for the Child Exploitation Operations Team, emphasised the severity of the issue and pointed out that behind each report lies a potential threat to communities and vulnerable children. He stressed that the majority of objectionable material encountered depicts actual children suffering horrific abuse, underscoring the urgent need for collective action.
When conversations become blackmail
Detective Senior Sergeant Richards said, “While just over half of our sextortion victims are young males between the ages of 13 and 21, it can affect anyone of any age, so we ask everyone online to be vigilant and mindful of their safety.”
“Sextortion is a global issue and as technology continues to advance so do the methods for targeting victims. Often offshore offenders are responsible, for persuading victims to send sexually explicit content before blackmailing them by threatening to post them online or share them with people close to the victim.
It is an issue that continues to be a challenge, with Police currently receiving an average of 42 complaints a month through Police reporting channels, involving both adult and child victims.”
He said, “The offending generally begins with a direct message sent to the victim on social media through a convincing, yet fake, account. The victim is then asked to continue chatting on a different app, and the conversation often becomes highly sexualised. From there victims are asked to share images, in some cases sexually explicit images, which are then used to blackmail them.”
It is important to remember, that in some cases, offenders are reported to alter seemingly innocent images to look explicit, which makes some innocent conversations and exchange of content potentially risky.
Importance of awareness
Tim Houston, Manager of the Digital Child Exploitation Team at the Department of Internal Affairs, underscores the importance of awareness among children and adolescents regarding the risks posed by online interactions. Highlighting a disturbing trend, he revealed that intimate content generated by minors often finds its way into the collections of offenders, further emphasising the imperative of vigilance.
The advice to young people and parents is clear. exercise caution online, verify the identity of individuals, and promptly report any suspicious activity. Initiatives such as Keep It Real Online offer invaluable resources for both children and caregivers seeking to navigate the digital landscape safely.
Detective Senior Sergeant Richards warns that sextortion, while disproportionately affecting young males aged 13 to 21, poses a threat to individuals of all ages. Perpetrators, often operating from abroad, employ various tactics to coerce victims into sharing explicit content, subsequently leveraging it for blackmail.
In response to the escalating crisis, NCMEC has developed an interactive video aimed at shedding light on the harrowing experience of sextortion victims. By fostering understanding and dialogue, this tool seeks to empower individuals to recognise warning signs and seek assistance proactively.
Indian Newslink will be doing a follow-up story on the matter, with detailed insight and prevention advice from experts.
Praneeta Mahajan is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Hamilton.
