Recent statements from Véronique Béchu, a member of the Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence Against Children (CIIVISE), have raised serious concerns about the scale of online child exploitation.

According to Béchu, there are estimated to be approximately 2.6 million online predators active globally at any given time.

This figure emphasizes the growing issue of pedocriminality online, particularly as it relates to the increasing exposure of minors to potential harm.

Béchu's recent publication, "Derrière l'Écran: Combattre l'Explosion de la Pédocriminalité en Ligne," aims to shed light on the severity of the threat faced by children online.

In interviews, she has noted that awareness of these issues remains insufficient among both professionals and parents.

Béchu has achieved recognition for her efforts, including receiving the Prix des Auditeurs de Justice for an influential book that has contributed to changes in judicial practices.

Access to digital devices among children has rapidly increased, with an alarming average age of just 8.5 years for a child in France to open their first social media account, as reported by the National Commission on Informatics and Liberty (CNIL).

The legal age for opening such accounts is generally set at 15 years, with parental authorization required for those aged between 13 and 15. However, a disturbing 13% of children reportedly create accounts between the ages of 6 and 7. Béchu points out that it takes less than a minute for children to receive sexual solicitations on social media platforms.

The rise in online predation has been particularly exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, with phenomena such as grooming—where predators gain a child’s trust in order to manipulate them into sharing sexual content—becoming more prevalent.

Additionally, sextortion, the act of blackmailing minors for more explicit content or financial gain, has also seen significant increases since the onset of the pandemic.

Béchu further highlights that France's commitment to combatting online child exploitation has historically lagged.

Despite the establishment of dedicated units to address severe violence against children, the current workforce remains limited.

Reports indicate that in the previous year, 170,000 alerts regarding suspected pedocriminal activities were logged on digital platforms, translating to roughly 465 possible investigations per day.

Béchu emphasizes the need for prevention and education to reduce the number of victims, arguing that merely increasing investigative resources would not fully address the issue.

On the topic of parental vigilance, Béchu advocates for proactive discussions between parents and children about the potential dangers of the internet.

She recounts her own experiences in educating her children early about these risks, enabling them to recognize and report suspicious behavior effectively.

Various resources are available for reporting online abuses, including the platform Pharos for reporting illicit content and the hotline 3018 dedicated to combatting digital violence and harassment.

Béchu advises that children should never feel guilt or shame if they encounter inappropriate situations online, stressing the importance of providing support to victims.