- Online Adolescents Experiencing: Numerous Instances of Sexual Misconduct
The Child and Youth Protection Platform "Jugendschutz".net documented around 5,000 incidents of online sexual exploitation against minors and adolescents in 2023, making up approximately two-thirds of all youth protection-related breaches detected within the digital realm. This figure marks an increase of 161 cases compared to the previous year, 2022, as per the platform's annual report presentation in Berlin.
In sum, the collaborative federal and state competence center recorded a total of 7,645 online transgressions against child and youth protection, signifying a surge of 282 cases from 2022. Twelve percent of these infractions pertained to pornography and sexually explicit content, while eleven percent centered around political extremism. Nonetheless, it's widely presumed that the actual number of cases is substantially higher due to underreporting.
Stefan Glaser, the head of Jugendschutz.net, voiced concerns over the mounting risk to minors and teenagers online. This rise is not only attributed to the growing complexity of differentiating reality from misinformation due to artificial intelligence but also the amplified risk of sexual violence, bullying, and extremism. Furthermore, according to Glaser, online service providers aren't doing enough to safeguard minors and teenagers. They're reportedly falling short in addressing reported breaches and verifying user age credentials.
Previously, the federal government's commissioner for preventing child abuse, Kerstin Claus, advocated for more stringent policies targeted at video platform providers, social networks, and online games with chat functions. Claus also critiqued the inadequate enforcement of existing commitments.
During 2023, Jugendschutz.net submitted 3,210 breaches to providers and self-regulatory bodies. Furthermore, they directly reported 3,582 instances to law enforcement due to the dissemination of child and youth pornographic content or imminent peril to life. By year's end, approximately 90 percent (6,902) of the reported infractions had been taken down.
The increase in online sexual exploitation cases, with over 5,000 incidents documented in 2023, highlights a significant concern in the realm of crime against minors and adolescents. Stefан Glaser, head of Jugendschutz.net, has expressed concerns that online service providers are not doing enough to protect minors and teenagers, often failing to address reported breaches and verify user ages.
