The importance of collaboration in CSE investigations
Child sexual exploitation ( CSE ), child sexual abuse materials ( CSAM ) and child sex trafficking ( CST ) are serious crimes that adversely impact children being coerced or manipulated into engaging in sexual activity for financial gain . The ACAMS Today Back-to-the-Basics article , “ Beyond The Headlines — A Real Look at Trends in CSAM and CST ,” 1 introduces and delves deeper into this topic and provides a classification for these heinous crimes .
In the U . S . alone , an estimated 500,000 online predators are active each day . 2 The past few years have seen this number grow , as well as a dramatic increase in the number of reported cases of various CSAM / CSE offenses . According to many experts , this is driven in large part by the COVID-19 pandemic , which increased usage of the internet . For example , in early 2022 , the nonprofit National Center for Missing & Exploited Children indicated it had received 29.3 million reports of suspected CSE in 2021 — an increase of 35 % from 2020 , an all-time high . 3
Financial institutions ( FIs ) play an important role in detecting and reporting these crimes , no matter how big or small the FI is . This article will provide quick and simple , as well as complex and technical steps , that can help FIs move in the right direction and the needed data and technology to do so . In addition , this article will focus on one typology ( live online CSE ) and a real-life case study that highlights the importance of knowledge , data , technology and collaboration .
ACAMS Today September – November 2023 119