Experts indicate that criminal organizations are earning significant revenues from online child sexual exploitation, coinciding with a doubling of related commercial websites over the past year. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) identified 15,031 such sites in 2025, up from 7,028 in 2024, marking a 114% rise. An unnamed analyst involved in the study noted that this material appears on various social media platforms and is readily accessible. The analyst explained that severe content, including depictions of child penetration involving infants, can be located with a single search and minimal navigation on any major platform. They emphasized that contrary to common beliefs, this material is not confined to obscure internet areas but is openly available.
IWF’s chief executive, Kerry Smith, stated that offenders are capitalizing on widespread vulnerabilities, easily generating large profits from child exploitation. She called for compulsory actions by financial institutions to identify, remove, and report payment mechanisms linked to selling child abuse imagery and videos. Additionally, Smith urged firms employing end-to-end encryption to implement established safety features to stop criminals from using these systems to share such content securely.
The study revealed that sites requiring direct payment for access grew from 2% in 2024 to 5% in 2025. Prices range from $12 to $120 for the most graphic material. Among these, 16% used disguises, presenting as legitimate when accessed directly but leading to illegal content via specific paths. Cryptocurrency was the primary payment option, alongside money transfers and credit cards. The analyst described the revenue model as resembling a pyramid structure, with affiliate systems benefiting video hosts and uploaders through traffic and clicks.
Investigators also observed cases where abusers attempted to pinpoint victims’ locations to share with other offenders. Reports of sextortion targeting those under 18—where perpetrators threaten to release intimate images unless demands are met—increased by 127% in 2025 over the previous year. Data from the Report Remove helpline, operated by IWF and NSPCC, showed children as young as seven reporting such incidents.
NSPCC CEO Chris Sherwood highlighted the alarming growth in these sites, underscoring how criminal groups profit from children’s suffering. He noted that victims often endure ongoing trauma from circulating images and stressed the need for immediate intervention. Sherwood advocated for Ofcom to collaborate in identifying and stopping these actors early, and for tech firms to deploy tools preventing minors from capturing, distributing, or obtaining nude photos. He mentioned that Childline’s Report Remove offers confidential support for under-18s to report and remove sexual images, aiding in halting further distribution.
Support is available through NSPCC for children at 0800 1111 and concerned adults at 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood provides assistance for adult survivors at 0808 801 0331.
