Hundreds Of Australians Are Paying For Live Child Abuse Material

Posted Wednesday, February 19, 2020 12:13 AM , updated Wednesday, February 19, 2020 12:13 AM

Hundreds of Australians are paying to live-stream child abuse material from the Philippines in a disturbing trend highlighted by The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC).

The organisation identified more than 2,700 financial transactions linked to extreme child abuse in the 12 year period between 2006 and 2018.

The majority of the alleged offenders are believed to be aged in their 50s and 60s and have no criminal records.

New investigations linking transaction data with criminal histories has helped develop a profile of likely webcam predators.

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In a media release on its website, the Australian Federal Police said it had received almost 17,000 reports of online child sexual abuse.

Each report can contain hundreds to thousands of images and videos, AFP boss Reece Kershaw said.

He, alongside officials from Australia's other major domestic security agencies, are expected to address the National Press Club in Canberra today.

"As the severity of violence used against children is increasing, the age of victims is getting younger," the statement said.

New investigations linking transaction data with criminal histories has helped develop a profile of likely webcam predators. (Image: Getty)

It is believed the volume and broadcasting of violent child abuse material is escalating, and authorities are seeing the rise of self-produced child sexual exploitation material.

Serious and organised crime costs the Federal Government an estimated $47.4 billion every year, CEO of the Australia Criminal Intelligence Commission Michael Phelan said.

The ACIC believes 70 percent of Australia’s organised criminal threats are based offshore or have strong offshore links.

"As the severity of violence used against children is increasing, the age of victims is getting younger," the AFP said. (Image: Getty stock image)

The AIC is due to release a new paper which analyses data on payments that were likely made by Australians in exchange for child sexual abuse streaming based in the Philippines.

Sadly the sexual exploitation of children for financial gain has grown and technology advancements now make it possible for offenders to order, pay for and view the live streaming of children being abused.

In the last few years Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has seen a 643 percent increase in suspicious matter reporting.

With AAP.

Featured image is a stock photo via Getty.