Record numbers of children including one aged under ten are being extorted by criminals threatening to publish nude selfies, an alarming report reveals today.
There were 462 reports of so-called 'sextortion' to the Report Remove service in the first six months of the year according to the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) – well above the 394 for the whole of last year.
The majority involved victims aged between 14 and 15 (227 reports), while there were 217 incidents involving 16- and 17-year-olds.
But there are major concerns too after data revealed 17 occasions involving children aged between 11 and 13, and one where the child was aged between seven and ten.
IWF chief executive Kerry Smith said: 'These figures show the horrors facing young people online are not going away.
'They show a consistently worsening picture – and a trajectory which, if it continues, will only wreak more havoc, hurt, and harm on young lives.'
Sextortion involves criminals threatening to share nude or sexual images of their victims if they fail to pay a fee to stop the content being published.
The overwhelming majority of the incidents (95 per cent) involved boys being sextorted, while much of the imagery used to coerce under 18s into handing over the cash was taken by the young person themselves.
A record numbers of children have reported being victims of sextortion - where criminals seek to blackmail young victims into handing over cash or risk nude images being published
The IWF said this usually takes place using a phone or other camera-enabled device, in response to coercion or trickery from a criminal online.
Last month, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the Government would legislate to block access to nude images for under-18s if tech companies do not take action themselves.
Ms Smith said such built-in controls could have a huge impact stopping criminals from obtaining compromising imagery in the first place.
She said: 'We welcome the commitment to introducing nudity blocking technology on children's devices – but there really is no time to lose.
'Every day that passes, criminals are still casting their nets wide, trying to lure thousands of children into harmful, potentially lethal, traps.
'This is why it is so important that the new Government does not take its foot off the pedal with online safety.'
Report Remove, run by the IWF and the NSPCC, allows under-18s in the UK to report when nude or sexual images of them have been shared, or might be shared, online, so that they can be blocked and removed.
Rani Govender, NSPCC head of child safety online, said: 'When a young person is sexually extorted, it can be devastating for them and their families.
'And these figures make it clear that more children will continue to fall victim to this horrific crime if platforms fail to act with urgency.
'Without swift action from tech companies and the Government, this abuse will only get worse. There is no excuse for inaction.'
The Report Remove service is available via both charities' websites.