American buyers sent $7 million for child‑sexual‑abuse material to the Philippines between 2020 and 2022, CNN reported after an investigation into digital payment records.
The money was routed through popular messaging apps and payment services that are used to buy CSAM for a few dollars from men in the United States and other Western nations.
The Philippines, home to over 117 million people, has become a hot spot for livestreamed child exploitation, with a 2023 International Justice Mission report stating that one in 100 children is trafficked for this purpose.
Last year, Philippine police arrested 50 women, 32 of them mothers, for exploiting children online, the National Police said, underscoring the role of family members in the abuse.
John Tanagho, executive director of IJM’s Centre to End Online Sexual Exploitation of Children, said the trade persists because "someone in the U.S. is willing to pay for that abuse."
A 14‑year‑old survivor, Isa, now lives in a shelter after being rescued from her aunties who livestreamed her abuse, CNN said.
The police announced they will conduct a nationwide audit of digital payment records to trace the flow of funds and increase crackdowns on illicit Telegram groups that facilitate the trade.