ONLINE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN: OFFENDER METHODS AND SECURITY AGENCY RESPONSES
ONLINE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN: OFFENDER METHODS AND SECURITY AGENCY RESPONSES

Summary/Abstract: Online sexual exploitation of children is one of the fastest-growing forms of cybercrime, driven by the rapid development of digital technologies, global connectivity and the wide availability of communication platforms. Offenders use different methods to target vulnerable children, including grooming, sextortion, social engineering, creating fake identities and distributing child sexual abuse material through encrypted channels, peer-to-peer networks and darknet services. Technological factors such as end-to-end encryption, cryptocurrencies, anonymisation networks and generative artificial intelligence further complicate detection and give offenders a high level of operational security. Security agencies respond by developing specialised teams, strengthening digital forensic capacities, improving international cooperation and relying on OSINT and SOCMINT methods to identify offenders and track criminal networks. However, challenges such as lack of staff, technical barriers, fragmented jurisdictions and the speed of technological change continue to limit the effectiveness of the institutional response. Legal and political measures, including the Budapest Convention and the Lanzarote Convention, provide a framework for action, but in practice there is still a significant gap between normative requirements and operational capabilities. The paper emphasises that combating online sexual exploitation of children requires a combination of preventive measures, technological innovation, multisectoral cooperation and stronger capacities of security institutions. Protecting children in the digital environment is not only a legal and social priority but also an important factor of overall security stability.

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