A charity has warned children as young as seven are being forced by abusers to film them performing the most serious forms of child sexual abuse.
Analysts at child protection charity Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) found nearly 900 cases of Class A child sexual abuse material in just five days.
It is calling on the government to return the repeatedly delayed Online Safety Bill to parliament.
IWF chief executive Susie Hargreaves said the charity had shared document details to “promote the clear reality of the situation” and said the government must reintroduce the Online Safety Bill to protect children.
The bill would require online platforms to find and remove illegal content to protect users, especially children.
IWF identifies and removes online images and videos of child abuse and provides the public with a place to report abuse anonymously.
Regarding the IWF’s latest findings, Ms Hargreaves said: “This shocking data helps to blow away any illusions that this image is simply children exploring their sexuality naturally.
“The casualness of the items used for the sexual pleasure of the viewers, combined with the evidence of everyday childhood life in these images, makes the situation a stark reality. “
‘Predator gains unprecedented access’
She said it was “important” that the bill be returned to parliament and that further delay “threatens” the future of the bill and the opportunity to protect children online.
She added: “Predators are approaching our children in places where we think they should be safe and protected.
IWF identifies and removes online images and videos of child abuse and provides the public with a place to report abuse anonymously.
Abuse is ‘inherently preventable’
Sir Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC, said that despite the disturbing findings, “we cannot escape the fact that this is the reality of online and daily child sexual abuse.” in families across the country”.
He added that the abuse was “inherently preventable” and “would be a wake-up call for the prime minister.”
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A Home Office spokesman said: “Child sexual abuse is a terrible crime against the most vulnerable in our society. We are working hard to go after the perpetrators. and keep children safe online and in our communities.
The Online Safety Bill is an important measure in this regard, as it will ensure companies take proactive action to keep children safe from child sexual abuse and exploitation on the platform. their.”
