All Posts in online exploitation

May 21, 2022 - 1 comment.

The Dark Side of Social Media

Did you know that online sexual abuse is the fastest growing major crime in the world?
On Thursday May 5th, ZOE Australia hosted a screening of the documentary, The Children in the Pictures with guest speaker Warren Bulmer, at The Classic Cinema in Elsternwick.

While many of us prefer not to focus on the "dark side" of social media, we can not ignore the fact that there is so much research and evidence outlining the risks for individuals, families and even whole communities. The Children in the Pictures is the type of documentary that every parent, carer, grandparent and teacher needs to watch. It is both eye-opening and confronting whilst being undeniably one of the most relevant and necessary awareness tools in the fight against online sexual abuse and exploitation.

Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the documentary highlights the commitment, dedication and global reputation of Argos and shines a light on what is the world’s fastest growing major crime,

“The cases covered in the film highlight the expertise of our investigators, along with Argos’ innovative investigative strategies that combined with international law enforcement collaboration, have resulted in the rescue of many children from abuse and offenders being brought to justice worldwide,” Commissioner Carroll said.

The film makers hope that this documentary encourages parents and caregivers to have important conversations with their children about online risks and how to navigate the internet safely.

More resources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNK0OZF73CE&t=6s eSafety for parents - Online grooming

https://www.abc.net.au/7.30/inside-the-police-task-force-that-has-rescued/13565644

https://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/afp-warn-about-fast-growing-online-child-abuse-trend

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/07/australian-police-sting-brings-down-paedophile-forum-on-dark-web