Children reporting naked image sextortion scams 'more than double'
The NSPCC reports that sextortion cases involving children have more than doubled in the past year, with criminals using fake profiles to trick minors into sending nude images for financial gain. The surge coincides with ongoing debates regarding the implementation of device-level nudity blocking technology.
Why it matters
The rise in digital exploitation of minors highlights urgent safety concerns and the pressure on tech companies to implement mandatory protective safeguards.
Criminals trick children into sending naked images before demanding money (Picture: Getty Images/Blend Images)
The number of children who have reported being preyed on in sextortion cases has more than doubled, the NSPCC has warned.
The children’s charity revealed a surge in reports of kids being blackmailed with threats of the release of their nude images for money.
The new data is being released as the government deadline for Big Tech companies to implement nudity blocking technology for children on all smartphones and tablets expires today.
Andy Burnham is facing calls to quickly honour Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to legislate to force Apple and Google to enforce the device-level safeguards.
In new data shared exclusively with Metro, the NSPCC said contacts with its Childline service about financially motivated sexual extortion (sextortion) had more than doubled in a year.
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