Tens of Thousands of Online Grooming Crimes Spark Demand for No More Delays to Online Safety Bill
The UK is facing a digital nightmare as tens of thousands of online grooming crimes pile up, fueling calls from campaigners to fast-track the long-delayed Online Safety Bill. Set to become law this autumn, the landmark legislation has faced constant changes and hold-ups — but child safety campaigners say the wait is over.
Snapchat and Meta Under Fire as NSPCC Sounds Alarm
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) revealed that UK police recorded a staggering 34,000 online grooming crimes over six years. Even more shocking: nearly three-quarters (73%) involved platforms like Snapchat or Meta-linked websites.
- 6,350 offences of sexual communication with minors were recorded in just the last year — an 82% jump since 2017/18.
- 5,500 of these offences targeted primary school-age children.
- Girls bore the brunt of abuse, making up 83% of social media grooming victims.
- Over 150 apps, games, and websites were flagged as grooming tools.
NSPCC Calls on Tech Giants and MPs: “No More Delays”
“Today’s research highlights the sheer scale of child abuse happening on social media and the human cost of fundamentally unsafe products,” said NSPCC Chief Executive Sir Peter Wanless. “The number of offences must serve as a reminder of why the Online Safety Bill is so important and why the ground-breaking protections it will give children are desperately needed.”
With Parliament’s summer recess ending soon, the NSPCC slammed any further hold-ups as a risk to children’s safety.
Bill Targets Emerging Threats Including AI, Despite Encryption Concerns
Tech firms have voiced worries the Bill could threaten encryption, but ministers insist safe services are a must to stop abusers operating in the shadows.
The Bill also plans to regulate emerging tech like artificial intelligence to ensure it doesn’t put kids at risk. Sir Peter Wanless stressed the need for tech companies to make sure current and future products aren’t harmful.
A chilling case of Sophia, exploited online by a predator posing as a teenager, underlines the urgency of the law. Without strong safeguards, online predators could continue abusing children under the cover of end-to-end encryption.
Government sources say the Bill is now stronger than ever, ready to deliver tough new rules and give law enforcement real tools to tackle online child abuse.
