Confronting the Crisis in Our Digital Age

In this engaging podcast episode, Alan Collins, head of the abuse team at Hugh James Solicitors, dives into the alarming issue of child sexual exploitation via technology, particularly focusing on the startling fact that children as young as three are being embroiled in online sexual abuse. Collins discusses a recent report by the Internet Watch Foundation, which confirms the horrifying extent of this crisis.

Alan asserts that this isn't just an issue for governments, law enforcement, or social media platforms—it's a concern for all of us as a society. He explores how this exploitation often intersects with other criminal activities, such as drug smuggling, and underlines the enormous financial motivations behind these deplorable acts.

The podcast further delves into the role of technology, with Alan questioning how young children gain access to it and the inherent risks exposed. Alongside this, he discusses the vital importance of education in identifying and understanding these risks and denotes how media potentially amplifies these problems by presenting unrealistic lifestyles and behaviors that young people tend to emulate.

Finally, he emphasises the imperative of listening to survivors of abuse to better comprehend the devastation caused by this menace and find effective ways to prevent history from repeating. Keeping in mind the dire consequences, Alan underscores the need for collective action and conscious effort to eradicate this atrocious practice from our society.