Victim Support: over 100,000 young people suffer from online sexual abuse a year

More than 100,000 young people deal with online sexual abuse yearly, according to Victim Support Netherlands. The verdict in the biggest sextortion case in the country gives the victims “the recognition they need,” a spokesperson for the organization responded.

Gianni de W. was sentenced to six and a half years in prison and mandatory treatment in a TBS psychiatric institution on Wednesday by the District Court in Breda for the sexual extortion of many underage girls. Many of his victims were present at the court verdict.

The man lured and manipulated his victims to a point where they sent naked photos and videos via social media, and then e threatened to distribute them to others if they did not send him more. This practice is known as sextortion.

The spokesperson for Victim Support Netherlands said that online sexual abuse is a huge problem. “This shows from the number of stories that we receive on our platform, WTFFF!?, A platform that is developed for young people who have experienced online sexual abuse.”

The court case in Breda attracted considerable media attention. The court chair hoped that the media would also pay attention to the large societal problem behind sextortion.

“The internet and social media have become an indispensable part of our society. With one click of the mouse or tap on the smartphone, someone with malicious intentions can emerge unnoticed in the digital world of children and young people," the court said.

The case of van De W. is a clear example of that, according to the court.