{
  "id": 14361166,
  "title": "Online abuse puts 1.5m Pakistani children at risk: study",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/online-abuse-puts-1-5m-pakistani-children-at-risk-study",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T03:56:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2037044/online-abuse-puts-15m-pakistani-children-at-risk-study"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An estimated 1.5 million children in Pakistan who use the internet faced sexual exploitation or abuse through digital means in the past year, according to recent research. The findings come from a new study by Unicef, ECPAT International, and INTERPOL, published in September 2026. This alarming statistic was presented by Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN's Special Representative on Violence Against Children, during her final report to the UN General Assembly in New York.\n\nM’jid warned that artificial intelligence and the global crises of conflict, natural disasters, and climate change are creating new dangers for children. She highlighted how AI technology opens up \"huge avenues for child sexual exploitation\" and \"cyberbullying, deepfakes, and recruitment into criminal activities.\" Despite progress over the past 20 years since the first UN global study on violence against children, the world still faces complex and overlapping crises.\n\nIn Pakistan, the study found that nearly one in 16 internet-using children aged 12 to 17 experienced some form of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse. The majority of these incidents (85%) involved perpetrators who were known to the children. Social media was the most common setting for reported abuse, accounting for 44% of cases. Unicef reports that over half of the children who experienced this type of abuse did not seek help, often fearing blame, humiliation, or family restrictions.\n\nThe study also pointed to gaps in Pakistan's legal framework, particularly in requiring systematic child forensic interviews by specially trained professionals. This could lead to secondary victimization during investigations. The Pakistani government now faces the challenge of addressing both the risks posed by digital technologies and the social and economic conditions that leave children vulnerable. The report emphasizes the need for safe, confidential reporting systems and support services that do not further traumatize the victims.",
  "summary": "WASHINGTON: About 1.5 million internet-using children in Pakistan experienced sexual exploitation or abuse facilitated by digital technology in a single year, according to new research, as a senior United Nations official warns that artificial intelligence and overlapping global crises are creating new dangers for children. Presenting her final report to the UN General Assembly on Monday, Najat…",
  "key_points": [
    "1.5 million Pakistani children at risk of online abuse, study finds",
    "85% of incidents involved known perpetrators, mostly on social media",
    "UN Special Representative warns AI amplifies child exploitation dangers"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}