Criminal gangs are profiting as the number of commercial child sexual abuse websites has doubled in a year, experts say. According to data collected by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), 15,031 commercial child sexual abuse sites were found in 2025, compared with 7,028 in 2024, a 114% increase.
Content in Plain Sight
An analyst who worked on the report but did not wish to be named said that this content exists across all social media platforms and is very easy to find. The analyst stated, "I can find child sexual abuse content, the worst categories, category A content, which is penetration of children as young as babies on any social media platform in as little as one search term and two clicks." The analyst added, "I think the public have this perception that this sort of material is hidden away in dark and dirty corners of the internet, but it's not, it's in plain sight."
Profiting from Exploitation
Kerry Smith, chief executive of the IWF, said, "It is clear criminals are exploiting systemic failures and are finding it far too easy to reap huge profits from children's sexual exploitation." The report found that the amount of child sexual abuse sites where users directly paid for content increased from 2% in 2024 to 5% in 2025. The analyst noted that costs range from $12 (£8.90) to $120 for the most extreme content. Of these commercial sites, 16% were disguised so that illegal content could be accessed through a pathway showing legal content when loaded directly onto a browser. Cryptocurrency was the most common payment method, with money transfer services and card payments also used.
Pyramid Scheme Structure
The analyst described the money made from illegal content as operating "like a pyramid scheme" through affiliate links. "The video channel is profiting because of the traffic that's going through. And then the person that's posted the video will be profiting through all the clicks and the advertising through the affiliate schemes," they explained. Researchers also found instances of perpetrators trying to determine victims' locations to expose them to other criminal users.
Surge in Sextortion Reports
The number of reports from young people under 18 who have been victims of sextortion increased by 127% in 2025 compared with 2024. Data from the Report Remove helpline, run by the IWF and the NSPCC, shows children as young as seven have self-reported sextortion. Chris Sherwood, CEO of the NSPCC, said, "The growing number of commercial child sexual abuse sites uncovered by the Internet Watch Foundation lays bare a severe problem, with malicious criminal gangs profiting off children's pain." He added, "We know young victims of sexual exploitation are often left defenceless and can face re-traumatisation knowing images of themselves continue to circulate online. This form of abuse demands urgent action."
Calls for Action
Smith called for mandatory measures on financial services to proactively detect, take down, and report digital payment links for the sale of child sexual abuse images and videos. She also urged companies using end-to-end encryption to adopt safety tools to prevent criminals from using these platforms as safe havens. Sherwood stated, "Ofcom must use its powers and work with others to spot and disrupt these perpetrators at the source, before they impact more young lives. Equally, tech companies need to utilise existing technology that prevents children from taking, sharing, or receiving nude images." The NSPCC offers support on 0800 1111 for children and 0808 800 5000 for concerned adults. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) supports adult survivors on 0808 801 0331.
