UNSW Analysis Reveals Behavioural And Demographic Trends Of Offenders Livestreaming Child Sexual Abuse

A new research project led by Childlight East Asia and Pacific Hub at the University of New South Wales has outlined emerging behavioural trends among Australian men engaged in livestreamed child sexual abuse, warning that many offenders have direct access to children and are prepared to offend both online and in person.

The findings were released in partnership with International Justice Mission as part of its Paradigm Shift initiative focused on preventing livestreamed abuse.

Findings Raise Concerns About Offending Patterns

Childlight surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,939 adult men in Australia to understand attitudes and self-reported behaviours linked to livestreamed child sexual abuse.

The results indicate heightened risk factors among a small but significant group of respondents.

According to the report, 1.8 per cent of men surveyed said they had already engaged in sexually explicit webcam interactions with children, with a further 4.7 per cent saying they would if offered.

Professor Michael Salter, Director of the Childlight East Asia and Pacific Hub and lead author of the report, said the data reveals characteristics that policymakers cannot ignore.

“Australian men who livestream sexually with children tend to be tech-savvy, well-educated, employed and earning higher incomes,” Salter said. “They often have direct access to children through work, family or community.”

He said the link between online offending and contact offending is now clearer.

“Men who reported livestreaming sexual acts with children were far more likely to have already sexually abused a child in person. Those who had not were more likely to say they would if they thought they could avoid being caught.”

Multiple Indicators Of Risk

The report found that respondents who livestream child sexual exploitation and abuse were consistently involved in other online abusive behaviours.

Nearly half had purchased child sexual abuse material. Three quarters had groomed or enticed children online.

Men who engaged in livestreaming were nine times more likely to report concerning sexual feelings towards children, six times more likely to have had sexual contact with a child while over 18, and more likely to live in households with children.

They were twice as likely to work in roles with access to children.

Their pornography consumption patterns were also distinct. According to the report, these men were more likely to watch pornography daily, view extreme content including bestiality and violent pornography, and buy explicit livestream or private sexual content.

Privacy and anonymity tools were used at higher rates. Respondents who livestreamed were more likely to use cryptocurrency, VPNs and encrypted messaging apps including Telegram, WhatsApp and Signal.

The report noted that these offenders were more likely to live in cities, earn higher incomes, be in relationships and hold university degrees.

Social Networks Fuel Offending

Researchers said that social connections appear to play a role in reinforcing harmful behaviour.

Offenders were more likely to report having friends who viewed child sexual abuse material, groomed children online or livestreamed abuse themselves.

Extreme trauma specialist and lived experience advocate, Kirsten Iosefo, said the findings reflect long-standing gaps in prevention and intervention.

“For people like me, these findings are not abstract,” Iosefo said. “They are proof of what happens when prevention is neglected, when systems know harm is happening and choose not to act.”

Platforms Not Using Detection Tools

The report highlights industry failures to act on tools already available to detect livestreamed abuse.

John Tanagho, Executive Director of International Justice Mission’s Center to End Online Sexual Exploitation of Children, said the lack of adoption is routine.

“Although tools exist to detect livestreamed child sexual abuse, according to the eSafety Commissioner’s August 2025 report, no major tech companies are using them in live video calls,” Tanagho said. “Offenders are operating with near impunity, enabled by a tech industry that looks the other way.”

Tanagho said urgent reform across the ecosystem is needed.

“We collectively need a paradigm shift to understand that livestreamed child sexual abuse is preventable. Children do not need to remain defenceless 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.”

Recommendations Target Tech, Government And Public Health

The report outlines measures aimed at reducing both opportunity and demand.

Technology Sector

• Require digital platforms, app developers, device makers and operating system providers to use Ai tools capable of detecting and disrupting livestreamed child sexual abuse in real time.
  
  
• Embed these requirements in legislation through an updated Online Safety Act with a digital duty of care.

Prevention And Public Health

• Establish a national prevention strategy with early support for people at risk of offending.
  
  
• Expand access to intervention programs for individuals with concerning sexual interests.
  
  
• Increase education on the harms of violent and extreme pornography.
  
  
• Launch public campaigns outlining legal consequences and encouraging early help-seeking.

Iosefo said Australia can lead if the right steps are taken.

“Australia has the expertise, the innovation and the moral responsibility to lead. The path forward is clear. Now we must walk it together, for the children of today and for future generations.”

Definition Of Livestreamed Abuse

The eSafety Commissioner defines child sexual exploitation and abuse livestreaming as the transmission or receipt of sexual exploitation or abuse of children via webcam or video to people anywhere in the world, with or without payment. This includes one-on-one video calls and group broadcasts.

The full report is available at: ijm.org.au/studies

Last Updated on November 15, 2025 by Nick Ross