# Global reports of child grooming and exploitation > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/global-reports-of-child-grooming-and-exploitation > Updated: 2026-09-29T06:12:25.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2. Authorities in Northern Europe and legal systems in the United Kingdom and Australia have reported various instances of child grooming and exploitation involving digital platforms. In Finland and Sweden, officials have noted a rise in the exploitation of children. Finnish police report that sexual abuse against minors is increasingly occurring in digital environments such as social media, gaming, and chat platforms. In Sweden, police data indicated a 20 percent increase in reports of minors being recruited into criminal activity during the summer, with criminal groups reportedly targeting children at sports facilities. In the United Kingdom, a man was sentenced to over three years in prison after being caught by an activist group using a decoy account on Snapchat to attempt sexual communication with a minor. Similarly, in the Australian Capital Territory, a legal case is proceeding against an individual accused of grooming a 14-year-old girl through Instagram and Snapchat by providing alcohol and cash. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-29: Criminal cases involving child grooming reported in UK and Australia Legal proceedings have emerged in the UK and Australia involving individuals accused of grooming minors through social media and other deceptive methods. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/criminal-cases-involving-child-grooming-reported-in-uk-and-australia ### 2026-09-29: Authorities report rise in child grooming and digital abuse Police in Finland and Sweden report rising trends in child grooming and sexual abuse, with criminals increasingly targeting minors through digital platforms and physical locations like sports facilities. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/authorities-report-rise-in-child-grooming-and-digital-abuse --- Cite as: Global reports of child grooming and exploitation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/global-reports-of-child-grooming-and-exploitation