Europe is witnessing a concerning rise in online child exploitation, as recent data shows that EU-funded hotlines received over 4.5 million reports of potential illegal content in 2025. More than half of these reports pertain to child sexual exploitation content.
According to reports from the Internet Watch Foundation, 63% of links related to child exploitation online were identified in EU countries. Bulgaria ranked first as the European country hosting the most criminal websites, with a 19% percentage point increase compared to the previous year.
Details of the Incident
Bulgaria leads the European nations, followed by the Netherlands and Romania, where 33,788 and 21,188 web pages related to child exploitation were found, respectively. France and Germany also saw significant increases in this type of content in 2025.
Kerry Smith, the executive director of the Internet Watch Foundation, stated that children, victims of sexual abuse in the EU, are being neglected by elected officials who are supposed to represent their interests.
Background & Context
In recent years, children have been growing up in an increasingly digital environment, raising concerns about their exposure to harmful content online. It is estimated that one in five children in Western Europe has encountered an online solicitation or bullying before reaching the age of eighteen.
In the first half of 2025, analysts at the Internet Watch Foundation recorded a 400% increase in AI-generated child pornography, with this type of content identified on 210 web pages. Reports of this material have increasingly been linked to cases of bullying and sexual extortion.
Impact & Consequences
Online bullying and child exploitation are phenomena that are often overlooked, despite their association with cases of missing children. In 2025, child helplines in Europe identified 92 cases where online bullying was linked to a child's disappearance.
Studies indicate that girls are the most targeted for online bullying, although boys are also at risk, and cases involving them are often underreported. Victims frequently refrain from reporting due to fear, stigma, or not recognizing bullying behaviors.
Regional Significance
These phenomena are particularly significant for the Arab region, where internet usage among children and youth is increasing. Arab countries must enhance awareness of online risks and develop effective strategies to protect children from exploitation.
In conclusion, the current situation requires a concerted effort from both international and local communities to address this growing phenomenon and protect children from the dangers of the digital world.