Philippines child exploitation industry involves 500,000 victims

An extensive investigation by CNN, supported by data from the International Justice Mission (IJM) and the University of Nottingham, has revealed a massive online child exploitation industry in the Philippines. Reports indicate that nearly 500,000 children—approximately one in every 100 children in the country—were exploited for the production of sexual abuse material in 2022 alone.

The industry often involves “made-to-order” abuse, where perpetrators in wealthier nations pay local intermediaries via video chat or encrypted messengers to direct the abuse of minors in real-time. In many instances, female family members are involved in coercing children into these acts.

Data from the Philippine Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) shows that between 2020 and 2022, customers in the United States spent over $7 million on such content. The investigation also identified perpetrators residing in the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Switzerland, including one instance where a Swiss citizen was convicted.