Child sexual abuse materials, also known as child pornography, are a growing global problem. While the use of information and communication technology (ICT) is significant in the modern world, threats to children are also growing. From the title itself, it is evident that this is a controversial topic. 

Generally, “pornography” is a term used to describe material depicting adults engaged in consensual sexual acts and distributed for the purpose of sexual pleasure. The term “child pornography” does not accurately describe the content and downplays the severity of the abuse from a child’s point of view. Additionally, this word implies consent, but a child cannot legally give consent to being exploited for sexual purposes. 

Therefore, organisations working for the betterment of children have started to avoid using the term “child pornography” and instead use “child sexual abuse material”. However, the term “child pornography” is still used in the laws of some countries for specific legal purposes, so child sexual abuse material is sometimes referred to as “child pornography” in some legal contexts.

 “Child sexual abuse material” has different legal definitions in different countries. The minimum definition of child sexual abuse material is imagery or videos which show a person who is a child and engaged in or is depicted as being engaged in explicit sexual activity. The term also includes depictions of a child engaging in real or simulated explicit sexual activities and depictions of a child’s sexual parts. This unlawful act, which even takes place with the child’s supposed consent, is always regarded as a serious crime because children are not allowed to give consent due to being too young and lacking the necessary maturity and development. Based on this, it is illegal to produce sexual materials using children, and once they are published and posted on the internet, they cannot be taken back.

This can happen to any child, anywhere, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, or language. It may take place for either commercial goals like obtaining resources or making money or for personal goals like extortion, insulting, revenge, etc. Due to its rapid global spread, this issue has a significant negative impact on a large number of children across a wide range of nations. The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children of the Police Children and Women’s Bureau reported that in 2021, there were over 29 million reports containing child sexual abuse materials, among which 84.9 million images and videos of child sexual abuse materials have been documented. 

This widespread issue is also affecting Sri Lanka. According to a report shared with The Daily Morning by the Protecting the Environment and Children Everywhere/End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism Sri Lanka (PEaCE / ECPAT) organisation, the number of child sexual abuse materials uploaded to the internet through Sri Lankan internet protocol addresses in 2021 stood at over 150,000. In 2021, the Police Children and Women’s Bureau established a special unit called the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children to monitor pornographic video footage and photographs involving children. According to their information, it was reported that a total of 17,629 such video clips had been uploaded to the internet between 17 June and 28 July 2021.

Creating child sexual abuse materials can be done not only by the perpetrator but also by the children themselves. Sometimes, children engage in these activities spontaneously, and it does not necessarily require intimidation or threats. Perpetrators often take advantage of children’s trust and misguide them, luring them into sexual traps. Shockingly, one-third of the child sexual abuse material found on the internet consist of self-generated materials created by children who uploaded sexually explicit photos and videos themselves.

According to a report by the International Watch Foundation (IWF), 147,188 reports of photos and videos featuring girls between the ages of 11 and 13 years were documented in 2021. These materials were found in their bedrooms or other rooms in their homes. These abusive materials put children at risk, and the IWF report released on 27 January 2023 indicated a 1,058% increase in web pages showing sexual abuse images and videos of children aged 7-10 years recorded via an internet-connected device, often by a predator who has contacted them online since 2019. These child sexual abuse materials tragically increased during the time of the Covid-19 lockdown, and online predators exploited children’s increased internet usage for learning, socialising, and playing. These online predators have coerced them into sexual activity, sometimes even including their friends or siblings, over webcams or smartphones connected to the internet. These produced materials reached all over the world in a second and as a result we have reached a level increase of 1,000%.

As artificial intelligence continues to advance, we must not forget the problems it can cause us and our children. While digital technology can make our daily lives easier, we should act responsibly and keep in mind the safety and well-being of our children. Preventive measures to tackle the issue of child sexual abuse and exploitation must be taken, starting from the home and the school environment. Children should be made aware of the dark side of the internet and remain vigilant at all times. They should also know that no one can touch them without their permission. By doing so, we can ensure a prosperous future for the next generation.

(The writer is a Project Officer at PEaCE/ECPAT Sri Lanka)

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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication.