The AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), in partnership with Kids Helpline, Meta and US youth prevention program NoFiltr, has launched a new initiative to better protect young people from the growing threat of sextortion.
Sextortion is a form of online blackmail where offenders trick or coerce someone into sending sexual images of themselves, and then threaten to share the images unless their demands are met. These demands could be for money, more graphic content or sexual favours. It’s a growing trend targeting young Australians and latest data reveals the ACCCE receives about 300 reports of sextortion targeting children each month. There are serious safety and wellbeing concerns for children who are caught up in sextortion, with suicide and self-harm risks attributed to this offending both overseas and in Australia.
This latest initiative features educational resources targeting 13 – 17 year-olds online with safety messages to prevent and respond to sextortion, along with support and advice to parents and youth, information on how to report to the ACCCE, and importantly, where to seek wellbeing help if targeted by offenders.
Social media materials have been shared and promoted across platforms used by young people, directly reaching those at risk of sextortion.
AFP Commander Human Exploitation Helen Schneider said the resources were designed to educate and support young people, parents and guardians, particularly before school holidays when children typically spend more time online.
‘It’s important that children know that help is available and the AFP and its partners, including Kids Helpline, are here to protect and support victims of sextortion,’ Commander Schneider said.
CEO of yourtown Tracy Adams said that Kids Helpline, a service delivered by yourtown, has seen more than 280 reports of sextortion-based contacts made by young Australians over the past 12 months, between July 2022 and June 2023.
‘This partnership highlights the need for a whole-of-community response to protecting our children through increased awareness and education aimed at preventing online sextortion before it happens,’ Ms Adams said.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the ACCCE is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.
If parents or carers are concerned about an issue that has happened online, it is critical children and young people are supported. Parents and carers can access support services or make a report online via the ACCCE website. The ACCCE website also has resources and information for preventing and responding to sextortion.
The AFP’s ThinkUKnow online child safety program focuses on preventing online child sexual exploitation.
