John Shehan

Responding to tens of millions of CyberTipline reports concerning offenders and child victims around the world, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) will share the current landscape of online child sexual exploitation. Emerging threats include a staggering increase in online enticement, child sex trafficking, financial sexual extortion of children, sadistic and violent exploitation groups, and challenges ahead with the rise of generative artificial intelligence. NCMEC's response, support of survivors, and resources for child serving professionals will be highlighted.

The session will also examine how NCMEC is leveraging artificial intelligence for good to prioritize high-value CyberTipline reports and reduce "white noise" within industry reporting. As part of a three-year, $10 million CyberTipline technology modernization effort-now in its second year-NCMEC will provide insight into these advancements and how they are improving outcomes for victims and survivors, enhancing reporting quality from electronic service providers, and strengthening investigative capabilities for law enforcement.