Released in November 2025, the report Paradigm Shift: Preventing Livestreamed Abuse of Children by Childlight East Asia & Pacific Hub at the University of New South Wales in partnership with International Justice Mission profiles men in Australia who pay to livestream sexual abuse of children in the Philippines.

The findings break common stereotypes about child online sex offenders and call for targeted interventions—including financial sector solutions—to disrupt this harmful trade and safeguard vulnerable children.

Breaking the stereotype

The report surveyed 1,939 Australian men aged 18 and older. Of the respondents, 1.8% admitted to engaging in sexually explicit webcam interactions with children. Another 4.7% said they would if offered.

Contrary to the common image of an isolated, reclusive offender, the data paints a different picture. Men who livestream sexual abuse of children tend to be:

• Tech-savvy, well-educated, and employed.
• Earning higher incomes and often having direct access to children through work, family, or community.

It is alarming how these men are embedded in society and would be difficult to spot. As they can blend in with everyone, red flags are difficult to perceive.

The report also found that “those who engage in livestreaming are nine times more likely to report troubling sexual feelings toward children and six times more likely to have had sexual contact with a child while over 18.” This underscores the link between online offending and in-person abuse.

Download the report here

Why this matters for the Philippines

Children in the Philippines are targeted for online sexual exploitation because of the ease with which the crime can be perpetrated—availability of internet, devices, and the general English fluency of the population. Livestreaming of online child sexual exploitation thrives on financial transactions—both on the supply and demand side. It is a stubbornly persistent illegal business that can be stopped with the expertise of the tech and financial industries.

Key recommendations

The report calls for a paradigm shift in prevention strategies, emphasizing:

1. Targeted Awareness Campaigns Break myths about offender profiles and educate communities about the real risks.

2. Stronger Tech and Financial Safeguards
FinTech companies should treat child exploitation payments like terrorist financing—flagging and reporting suspicious transactions within days, not weeks. Platforms must be safe by design, using AI and machine learning to detect and disrupt abuse in real time.

3. Cross-Sector Collaboration Tech firms, financial institutions, law enforcement, and child protection agencies must work together to close loopholes that offenders exploit.

Executive Director of International Justice Mission’s Center to End Online Sexual Exploitation of Children John Tanagho said: “Although tools exist to detect live-streamed child sexual abuse, according to the eSafety Commissioner’s August 2025 report, no major tech companies are using them in live video calls. Offenders are operating with near impunity, enabled by a tech industry that looks the other way.”

“We collectively need a paradigm shift to understand that livestreamed child sexual abuse is preventable. Children in Australia and around the world do not need to remain defenseless while offenders exploit live video technologies. Governments, law enforcement, tech and financial companies, and civil society can work together to stop it — by making detection and disruption of live abuse a top priority," John said.

We collectively need a paradigm shift to understand that livestreamed child sexual abuse is preventable. Children in Australia and around the world do not need to remain defenseless while offenders exploit live video technologies. Governments, law enforcement, tech and financial companies, and civil society can work together to stop it — by making detection and disruption of live abuse a top priority.