Britain’s crime agency is advocating for increased safeguards for children on the internet, citing that over 90% of removed child sexual abuse content involves material created by the victims themselves.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) disclosed this disturbing information while cautioning that the current online landscape is dangerous for children. In 2025, the organization received nearly 100,000 reports of online child sexual abuse, marking a fourfold surge compared to six years prior.
Approximately 840,000 adults in the UK are believed to pose a sexual threat to children, with instances ranging from strangers grooming kids on websites and social platforms to a case where police identified 320 victims within a ‘sextortion’ network of 6,000 members.
In this network, young girls were deceived into sending explicit images by malicious individuals who then threatened to circulate the images unless further demands were met. This exploitation escalated to severe abuse, including degrading acts and self-harm broadcasted via live streams.
Graeme Biggar, Director General of the NCA, remarked, “Every day, NCA officers and law enforcement partners tackle appalling cases that underscore the unsafe nature of the current online environment for children.” He highlighted the staggering scale of the issue, citing tech companies reporting 400 suspected instances of online child sexual abuse in the UK daily, with cases becoming more numerous and severe, involving younger victims.
Biggar emphasized, “Children sending and receiving nude images on electronic devices, including through encrypted services, facilitate various forms of child sexual abuse, such as grooming, extortion, and self-generated content. Implementing controls on children’s devices presents an opportunity to shield children and prevent some forms of abuse at the source.”
The NCA’s push for enhanced online child protection aligns with statements made by Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, who expressed the need for “drastic” measures to safeguard kids. Kendall hinted at a potential ban on social media for those under 16, signaling a possible restriction on popular apps like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.
Kendall highlighted the overwhelming parental concerns and the strong support for a social media ban for individuals under 16, reflecting the parents’ unease despite acknowledging the benefits that social media can offer to children.
