Public Opinion is Clear: Urgent Legislation Required to Protect Children from Sexual Exploitation! Read the story

Public Opinion is Clear: Urgent Legislation Required to Protect Children from Sexual Exploitation!

ECPAT and NSPCC 2023 Poll Reveals Unwavering Public Demand: 9 in 10 EU Citizens Say Legislation to End Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation is Key

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All Europeans agree: children are increasingly at risk of child sexual abuse and exploitation online.
Despite ongoing debate, an unwavering 90% of adults across Europe have made their stance unmistakable: legislation is key to protecting children from the scourge of online sexual abuse and exploitation, as revealed by ECPAT and NSPCC 2023 Poll. This is a non-negotiable stance; it’s a societal mandate that asks for immediate attention.  

ECPAT and NSPCC’s 2023 Poll has shown that public opinion remains steadfast. We surveyed 25,151 people aged 18+ across 15 EU countries and the UK and we found out that the call for legislation to protect children online is not up for debate; it’s an urgent public demand. More than half of all Europeans surveyed declared that this issue will influence how they vote at a future election. With the European Parliament elections on the horizon in June 2024, MEPs face a duty and a moral imperative to enact meaningful legislation for online child safety.

Don’t let the debate derail action. Tweet your leader NOW to insist that the EU end child sexual abuse online, and let them know that public opinion firmly supports protective measures. 

 

 

Not only are Europeans calling for more child safety online, but ECPAT and Eurobarometer data show they want it now more than ever. In 2021, ECPAT conducted a similar poll, asking EU citizens about their views on child safety online. The findings from 2021 and 2023 underscore a major growing concern among European citizens: children in 2023 are not safer online than they were in 2021. The time has come to place legal obligations on online service providers, such as social media platforms, to assess and mitigate the risk of child sexual abuse on their online platforms. 

Share the words of Frida, a survivor of child sexual abuse calling on tech companies to do more to protect children online! 

In the words of Frida*, a survivor of technology-facilitated sexual abuse as a child:

“As a 13-year-old, I deserved to be safe, and I deserved the right to express myself on the internet. As someone in my early twenties I deserve the right to privacy, the right to know that explicit images and videos of me as a child can’t continue to be shared.”  

ECPAT and NSPCC 2023 EU Poll reveals that: 

  • 95% of European respondents say it is important there are laws to regulate online service providers to prevent and combat child sexual abuse and exploitation online; 
  • 91% of European respondents agree that children are increasingly at risk online
  • 86% of European respondents agree that children are increasingly at risk of sexual abuse and exploitation online
  • 91% of European respondents say that online service providers should be required to design and adapt their services to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation online;
  • 81% of European respondents support moves to oblige online service providers to detect, report, and remove child sexual abuse online;

Access the Executive Summary

Access the Poll Questionnaire 

Access the Poll Tables

Despite the contentious debate around online privacy, ECPAT and NSPCC poll reveal that 72% of adults in the EU and the UK are willing to compromise some degree of their privacy online if it helps to protect children from risks of sexual abuse online. Data show that more than 70% of adults in the EU and the UK support online service providers to detect, report, and remove child sexual abuse material and grooming on end-to-end encrypted services. The message is clear: privacy concerns should not eclipse the safety of our children. 

Amy Crocker, Head of Child Protection and Technology at ECPAT International said:

Public sentiment remains unswayed by privacy debates that overshadow child protection needs. The demand for comprehensive legislation safeguarding our children online is urgent, immediate, and non-negotiable. EU leaders can no longer afford to be inactive or indecisive. Privacy is essential, buthe well-being of our children must be the cornerstone of EU digital policies.

Sir Peter Wanless, NSPCC Chief Executive, said:

It’s clear that voters across the UK and Europe back strong protections for children online and companies opposed to regulation are becoming increasingly out of step with their user base. Lawmakers and tech executives should listen to the voices of survivors and the public by placing the safety of children at the centre of their decision-making.

Add your voice on social media and remember to use the #ChildSafetyON hashtag! 

Data reveals that Europeans see online service providers as one of the most important actors in preventing and protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation online. And for a good reason! A WeProtect Global Study on the experiences of 18-20-year-old confirms Europeans’ growing concern: more than 60% of child respondents in Europe are experiencing at least one form of child sexual abuse online. Alarmingly, more than 60% of children worldwide are receiving unwanted sexually explicit photos, videos, or messages through mobile phones on private messaging services.  

ECPAT Disrupting Harm research shows that advice and education coming from parents and teachers is not enough to protect children online. More needs to be done on the side of tech companies and online service providers as the dangers for children increase.  

Tweet your leader NOW to insist that the EU end child sexual abuse online, and let them know that public opinion firmly supports protective measures. 

In 2023, analysts at the Internet Watch Foundation unveiled a disturbing 26% surge in online child sexual abuse material compared to the same period in 2022. Shockingly, the European Union remains the larger hub for the hosting of such content in both 2022 and 2023. The immeasurable toll this takes on the well-being of countless children and survivors is incalculable.  
In a climate where harmful rhetoric around privacy often clouds judgement, one truth remains consistent: child safety is paramount. With a distressing volume of child sexual abuse material reported online every single minute, the urgency for action is immediate. Our children cannot afford to wait. EU Institutions, National Governments, and online service providers must cut through the debate and enact legislation that places the safety and rights of our children at the heart of EU digital policies. 
Interview: Child Rights organisations support the EU Proposal to Prevent and Combat Online Child Sexual Abuse

ECPAT International’s opinion on the topic of child sexual abuse online and the European Commission’s proposal to Combat and Prevent Child Sexual Abuse online. Interview broadcasted in the German MDR/AR media journal.

Listen to the interview.

in September 2022

Available in: German

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Global Boys Initiative Case Study: Calais, France

The case study conducted with ECPAT France in Calais, France, looks at how to work with boys at risk or survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse in the contexts of migration and forced displacement.

by ECPAT International in 2024

Available in: English, French

Gender, Safety, and Help-Seeking Behaviours in Online Gaming Environments – Brief Paper

This brief summarises a June 2024 workshop hosted by ECPAT International, bringing together child rights representatives, researchers, and online gaming companies to discuss gender, safety, and help-seeking behaviours in online environments. Emphasising the value of collaborative spaces, participants explored challenges, identified gaps, and proposed key actions to ensure gender-sensitive children’s safety in online gaming environments. The discussions left participants motivated to pursue future actions by leveraging diverse expertise for the benefit of children’s online safety.

by ECPAT International in 2024

Available in: English

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Executive Summary – VOICE Speaking Up For Change: Children’s and Caregivers’ Voices for Safer Online Experiences

Ensuring children’s safety online is crucial in the digital age, demanding a thorough understanding of children’s perspectives and needs. The executive summary of the VOICE project, a collaboration between ECPAT International, Eurochild, and Terre des Hommes Netherlands under the Down to Zero Alliance, provides quick access to the research findings from the VOICE Report “Speaking Up For Change: Children’s and Caregivers’ Voices for Safer Online Experiences.” It calls for immediate action and advocacy to implement robust safety measures and actively involve children in shaping online safety policies.

by ECPAT International, Eurochild, Terre Des Hommes Netherlands in 2024

Available in: Bengali, Croatian, Dutch, English, Estonian, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai

Collective Action to End Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Regional Workshop: Bangkok Outcome Report

From March 4-7, 2024, a transformative workshop in Bangkok, Thailand, convened 113 participants from 34 countries spanning East and Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Pacific. The Collective Action: End Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse workshop served as a pivotal gathering that transcended geographical boundaries to address the global crisis of sexual exploitation of children, including in the digital world. Bringing together a diverse array of stakeholders, including ECPAT members, Safe Online grantees, nongovernmental organisations and civil society organisations, as well as experts, advocates, practitioners, international organisations, and philanthropic entities from around the world, the workshop marked a significant milestone in the ongoing movement to address the sexual exploitation of children.

This report, synthesising the workshop’s outcomes, serves as a blueprint for ongoing efforts against the sexual exploitation of children. It calls for continued innovation, collaboration, and a unified vision to protect every child from sexual exploitation.

by ECPAT International in 2024

Available in: English

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