Analysing the patterns & impacts of five cases of child sexual exploitation and abuse through live streaming

Abstract

Background: Child sexual exploitation and abuse through live streaming is more than just a sexual act. Live streaming child sexual exploitation and abuse is a form of serious crime that causes real harm to victims. Methods: This research uses a secondary data analysis method. The data analysed are data from five cases of child sexual exploitation and abuse through live streaming in Indonesia. The five cases were sourced from national and regional news media, obtained online, which have been verified by the Press Council. The data was analysed using a qualitative approach. Findings: The data findings showed that only two out of the five cases where the operators aimed to gain financial benefits, namely in case 2 and case 5. Whereas, in case 1 and case 3, it was found that the operators aimed to fulfil their own sexual satisfaction. Then, the operators in case 4 aimed to fulfil the sexual gratification of the audience. This shows that the assumption that the motive of the operators to sexually exploit and abuse children through live streaming for the purpose of financial gain is not entirely true. The pattern of perpetrators of live streaming child sexual exploitation and abuse, both operators and viewers, is based on their goals. Conclusion: Both operators and viewers play a major role in the sexual exploitation and abuse of children through live streaming. The impact of child sexual exploitation and abuse through live streaming is similar to experiencing sexual violence directly by many people. Novelty/Originality of This Study: Money was not found to be the main motive for this crime. Instead, these crimes occur because the perpetrators, both operators and viewers, want to satisfy their sexual desires. Child sexual exploitation and abuse through live streaming was found to be more harmful in impact similar to experiencing live sexual abuse