Australian Institue of Criminology

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Online grooming, exploitation and sexual abuse of children

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have created a new space in which children can both learn and play. It is a space of both opportunity and risk where they can develop but where they may also become the victims of crime or engage in illegal behaviour themselves.

ICT enables offenders to target children individually or collectively. Possible motives include personal gratification of the offender, often by way of sexual exploitation; making money; or enticing children to gain access to email or websites from which viruses may be launched or the security of the child's computer may be compromised.

ICT can also support criminal exploitation of children without the child being directly involved. For example, it may be used to facilitate access, storage, trade or possession of child pornography; to support information sharing among pedophile networks; and to assist with the organisation of illegal activities such as child prostitution. Such activities can be done in relative secrecy.

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