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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Sinéad Campbell

Criminal gangs profiting as child sexual abuse websites double, experts say

Sexual Abuse IWF Chris Sherwood Kerry Smith NSPCC Internet Childline The Internet Watch Foundation
Hooded young person types on a laptop, illustrating online child safety concerns
According to data collected by the IWF, 15,031 commercial child sexual abuse sites were found in 2025, compared with 7,028 found in 2024. Photograph: Tim Goode/PA

The number of commercial child sexual abuse websites has doubled in a year as experts say that criminal gangs are making “huge profits” from online sexual exploitation.

According to data collected by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), 15,031 commercial child sexual abuse sites were found in 2025, compared with 7,028 found in 2024, a 114% increase.

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