Child sex exploitation and cybercrimes are on the rise in Greater Sudbury

WARNING: This article contains details of child sexual abuse.

According to new data released by Statistics Canada, cybercrimes in Greater Sudbury increased from 381 reports per 100,000 people in 2022 to 406 in 2023. This rise is partly attributed to an increase in child pornography.

Cybercrimes encompass all crimes where a computer or the internet was either the target or the instrument used including fraud, extortion and sexual exploitation. The government agency reports that the increase in child pornography in 2023 was partially the result of more cases being forwarded to local police servicesas a result of increased public awareness.

Stephen Sauer, the director of Canada's tipline for reporting online child sexual abuse and exploitation, Cybertip.ca, attributes the increase to the ease of access, recording, and sharing of child pornography over the internet.

"Because of technology nowadays we know that more of this stuff is being distributed online than ever beforewe have individuals who have unfiltered access to our kids through social media, through different apps and services," said Sauer.

According to Statistics Canada, almost 79 per cent of incidents of child pornography and 20 per cent of sexual violations against children include a cyber component.

Sauer says social media companies are "making money off of the backs of kids being sexually exploited" due to the decisions they make around the design, moderation and commercialization of their services.

"They don't have things like proper moderation or training for individuals that monitor these apps. They don't have the appropriate systems in place to ensure that there are preventative methods set up...they just aren't doing enough."

He notes that he frequently sees videos of children being abused at home, which are shared online by offenders who have that interest in children. He has also noticed individuals who connect with children to create child sexual abuse material through online apps and services.

"It's pretty easy for an individual to contact you through social media or through an app that you typically use and have a conversation with them, groom them and move them to a point where they're willing to share a sexual picture, video or record live stream," said Sauer.

He adds that these children can range from very young to around 10 years old.

"There's a sense of panic and that they know that something has gone wrong and they're often, you know, stressed as a result of being exploited. They're seeking some sort of guidance, some assistance. In a lot of cases, there's shame associated with it because they often blame themselves for what's happened."

Greater Sudbury Police Service investigates tips forwarded from Cybertip.ca. They classify child sexual exploitation as any sexual crime involving individuals under 18 years old.

"Sometimes some images are, we call age difficult. So it's just a close-up of a private area, whether male or female, we can't tell. Sometimes you can," explains Sgt. Kimberley Hanson, who works in the internet child exploitation unit at Greater Sudbury Police Service.

She adds that they arrest offenders if they can prove guilt or execute a search warrant if there is reasonable belief in their guilt.

"We seize all their electronic devices, laptops, cellphones. We do a search of the residence or car, whatever we're searching. And then no matter what, they have all of their devices searched through by our technical forensic unit," saidHanson.

She says artificial intelligence is contributing to an increase in reports in Greater Sudbury.

"We're starting to see that increase as well with people creating their own pornography using AI programs instead of going to find child pornography on the dark web or wherever," said Hanson.

Support is available for anyone who has been sexually abused. Resources for family and children areavailable through theCanadian Centre for Child Protection. You can also access crisis lines and local support services through thisGovernment of Canada websiteor theEnding Violence Association of Canada database. If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.