AI-driven surge in online sexual exploitation of minors in Belgium
Child Focus reported that online sexual exploitation of minors in Belgium doubled to 837 cases in 2025 from 401 in 2023, with AI cited as a contributing factor. The surge included record levels of non-consensual sexting, sextorsion, and grooming, with boys becoming the largest victim group for the first time.
What happened
Child Focus reported in 2026 that online sexual exploitation of minors in Belgium reached record levels in 2025, with 837 total cases of sexting without consent, grooming, and sextorsion reported—double the 401 cases recorded in 2023.
The organization opened 296 new files for non-consensual sexting, a 30% increase from 2024, with victims averaging 14 years old and 74% female. Sextorsion cases grew exponentially by 143% to 433 victims, with boys aged 15 representing 92% of financial sextorsion victims. Grooming cases reached 108, a record absolute with 151% growth and victims averaging 13 years old.
Child Focus attributed the surge partly to the arrival of artificial intelligence, noting that most situations involved images, photos, or videos used to humiliate, extort money from, or abuse minors.
Reported impact
In 2025, boys constituted for the first time the largest group of victims of online sexual exploitation accompanied by Child Focus, driven by sextorsion targeting.
Index analysis
Child Focus called for strict application of the Digital Services Act and development of a permanent legislative framework, the 'Child Sexual Abuse' regulation, to combat online sexual violence against children.
The organization emphasized that online platforms such as Meta, TikTok, and Google 'must take responsibility to protect children' and that there is a need for 'effective legislation ensuring that abuse images cannot be shared with impunity.'
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.