National Crime Agency: War on online child abuse is becoming tougher

Generative AI image creation tools and the continued rollout of end-to-end encryption are making it harder to protect children from online harms, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has said.

The agency, which works with Police Scotland and other partners, said technological advances and the increasing use of online platforms are “significantly increasing opportunities for offenders”, and wants regulator Ofcom to make more use of powers in the Online Safety Act to hold companies to account if they are not compliant with rules aimed at preventing harms on the web.

The NCA and partners arrest an average of 1,000 potential offenders each month. The action is said to safeguard approximately 1,200 children.

During one week in January, the NCA and forces across the UK arrested 252 people, with 118 charged. The action is said to have protected 407 youngsters and 35 individuals were sentenced at court. The NCA said: “This is not a one off – this level of action is taking place every week.”

Emerging threats include the financially-motivated sexual extortion of young boys, as seen in the case of Glasgow software engineer Ross Brogan, who befriended four boys under-16 and demanded intimate images and videos in return for Xbox or PlayStation codes.

The 31-year-old threatened to harm the family of one boy if he did not comply. He pled guilty to six sexual offence charges at a hearing last month and was sentenced to 10 years and six months imprisonment at the High Court in Glasgow. The tariff also carries a three-year extension, during which he will be monitored, and his name has been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.

The NCA said that “statistically” there are potential child sex abuse offenders “in every community, and victims in every school”.

It wants the development of prevention initiatives to deter adults and young people who are at risk of sexually abusing a child to be prioritised, alongside funding for offender management to help deter offending before it happens.

It is also calling for prevention initiatives for potential offenders to be developed and expanded, with greater funding for offender management.

Rob Jones, NCA director general operations, said: “Over the last five years, we have continually said that the use of technology is increasing the opportunities for child sex offenders, and the risk to children and young people. We have seen some improvements by tech companies, but it’s nowhere near what’s actually needed to protect children in this day and age.

“On a daily basis, officers at the NCA and across policing are assessing some of the most obscene child abuse imaginable. And this is not hidden in the dark web – it’s being shared on social media and is accessible on the clear web as well for anyone to see.

“The response to the continual CSA [child sexual abuse] threat cannot be one for policing alone - a whole‑system approach is the only way to protect children effectively.  We all owe it to our children not to be a bystander – now is the time to really make a difference.”