"Sextortion is the term for when a person is manipulated into sending an explicit selfie or video to a predator, who then threatens to publish it online unless the victim sends money or further intimate images."
"The Molly Rose Foundation (MRF) said tech companies should be doing far more to disrupt blackmail attempts, and urged the government to demand further action from social media platforms, where initial grooming of victims often takes place."
"It is clear to us that if companies won't do this by themselves, the government must step in to make sure they do, said Hannah Swirsky, the IWF's head of policy."
"Murray Dowey's mother, Ros, said the latest data was horrifying and disappointing. She said: What will it take for..."
In the UK, children are increasingly reporting online sextortion attempts, with 394 reports from under-18s last year, a 34% increase from 2024. Sextortion involves manipulation into sending explicit content, followed by threats of exposure unless further images or money are provided. Boys aged 14 to 17 represent 98% of victims. The issue has been linked to several teenage suicides. Advocacy groups urge tech companies to implement better safeguards, including nudity-detection technology, while parents of victims seek accountability from social media platforms.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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