‘Be on guard’: OPP documentary warns parents about dangers of online sexual assault
Global News
The OPP is warning parents after over 6,300 cases of online child exploitation were reported in Ontario in 2024, with predators using social media, games and AI to target kids.
A new short documentary released by the Ontario Provincial Police is shedding light on what it says is one of the most disturbing and fast-growing threats facing children: online sexual exploitation.
Titled ”Protecting Innocence,” the film opens with the story of a mother and daughter who bravely speak out about their experience dealing with online abuse.
The video, which can be found on YouTube, is part of a wider effort under Ontario’s Provincial Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) program, which is raising awareness about a crisis law enforcement says is escalating rapidly.
According to Det. Staff Sgt. Tim Brown, who leads the ICE strategy team, children today face risks that extend far beyond their physical environment.
“Children have no safety net on the internet,” Brown said. “Protecting them is our most fundamental responsibility as a society.”
While internet and phone usage has become standard among younger kids, it also provides predators with unprecedented access to minors.
The OPP says they are seeing more offenders exploiting social media, gaming platforms and messaging apps to communicate with children, often posing as peers to gain trust.
In 2024 alone, there were 2,717 incidents of child luring reported to Cybertips, a national tipline for reporting online sexual exploitation of children.
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