Definitions, types, and methods of Sextortion
Sexting vs Sextortion- what is the difference?
Sexting- the act of sending sexually explicit text messages and/or images between devices. To learn more about sexting, refer to the resources at the bottom on the page.
Sextortion- Sextortion is a form of child sexual exploitation. The youth is threatened or blackmailed to share nude or sexual images of themselves by means of deceit, coercion, and manipulation. This occurs by a person (adult or another peer) who demands additional sexual content, sexual activity or money from the youth.
Other definitions to know
Child Sex Abuse Materials (CSAM)- any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor, even if done consensually
Self-Generated CSAM (SG-CSAM)- sexually explicit content created by and featuring children below the age of eighteen. These images can be taken and shared intentionally by minors, but can result of online grooming or sextortion.
Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA)- the actual or threatened physical intrusion of sex, either by force or coercion
Types of Sextortion
Traditional sextortion- Occurs when a victim is threatened or blackmailed into providing more sexual imagery. The predator threatens to share their images to extort money, videos, sexual favors, images or meet ups from the victim.
Financial sextortion- Occurs when a predator demands money or gift cards in exchange for keeping the victims sexual images private. This crime is on the rise*. Currently, as many as 79% of predators seek money rather than additional sexual imagery. Teenage boys have been the most common targets of this crime.
Synthetic NDII or Synthetic Sexually Explicit Materials (SSEM), also known as “deep-fakes”– Synthetic media productions that are digitally manipulated to replace one person’s likeness with that of another. It covers any videos, pictures, or audio made with artificial intelligence to appear real. It can include deep-fake pornography.
- Nudify- apps and websites that use AI bots (small apps) to undress someone, creating a non-consensual nude photo. Many of them only work on women.
Nonconsensual Distribution of Intimate Images (NDII), also known as “revenge porn”– non-consensual taking of images (through voyeurism, hacking, hidden cameras, up-skirting and down-blousing), non-consensual making of images (image alteration or creation, i.e. photoshop, nudify and deep-fake images) and non-consensual sharing of, and threats to share, intimate images (both physically and electronically).
Livestreaming Child Sexual Exploitation LCSE)- occurs when an offender compels a child to engage in sexually explicit conduct during a broadcast, in real time, to one or more viewers. There are three types:
- Child “self generated”– occurs when a child is coerced, tricked, or compelled to engage in sexually explicit conduct on a livestream. This typically occurs from his/her bedroom or a bathroom. This occurs under the pretext the offender and victim are in a romantic relationship.
- Offender-streaming- occurs when an offender sexually abuses a child in person while livestreaming the abuse to viewers. Offenders tend to be family members or family friends.
- Virtual child sex trafficking- offenders pay to watch while another offender sexually abuses a child in person, or offenders pay a victim directly to create “self-generated” CSAM.
Methods used on victims of sextortion
Online Enticement- When someone is interacting with who they believe is a minor online for the purpose or intent of a sexual encounter (whether online or in person).
Catfished- An online con that lures someone into a relationship, often romantic in nature, by using a fictional persona.
Crowdsourcing- Offenders collaborate in groups to target and exploit their victims. They work together to identify social media profiles of minor victims and strategize how to convince minors to engage in sexually explicit activity.
Source- Thorn, Evergreen Caregiver Support, and Million Kids