E/CN.15/2014/CRP.1 The main forms of ICT-facilitated child abuse and exploitation can be identified by observing practices. The forms discussed in this study are: child sexual abuse material (child pornography); commercial sexual exploitation of children; cyber-enticement, solicitation and grooming; cyber-bullying, cyber-harassment and cyber-stalking; and exposure to harmful content. “Child sexual abuse material” comes in many forms and consists of a recording, usually in still or video, which depicts a child engaged in sexually explicit activity. The terms “cyber-enticement”, “solicitation” and “online grooming” are regularly used collectively or interchangeably to describe communications made by adults through the use of ICTs for the purpose of sexually abusing or exploiting minors. “Cyber-harassment” refers to the intimidation, repeated or otherwise, of one individual by another or by a group, perpetrated through or utilizing electronic means. “Cyber-bullying” encompasses the use of ICTs to harm a victim or victims in deliberate, repeated, and hostile ways. “Cyber-stalking” is commonly understood as a course of action that involves more than one incident perpetrated through or utilizing electronic means that causes distress, fear or alarm. “Exposure to harmful online content” pertains to situations where a child accidentally or intentionally views pornographic or other content that is judged to be harmful to their development, sexual or otherwise. Chapter Three: Evaluating the problem Effects of information and communication technologies on common forms of child abuse and exploitation Potential offenders are able to gain enhanced access to victims and to child sexual abuse material through the use of ICTs, which increase their pool of potential victims, offer the opportunity of creating false identities, and facilitate the transmission of harmful content to children. Human traffickers may also recruit new victims, including children, and market child sex tourism through the use of ICTs. ICTs can deliver increased profits for criminal enterprises by markedly reducing the costs of production and distribution of child sexual abuse material. Human traffickers may also carry out their activities primarily, or even exclusively, via mobile phone. The use of mobile phones and the Internet further assists offenders in hiding their identities and obfuscating activities, thus reducing risk of detection. Increased levels of harm and re-victimization can occur through “layering” of crimes such as, for instance, when child sexual abuse material is produced, and then distributed and redistributed online. In addition, cyber-bullies may use public websites and social media to broaden their audience and increase the impact on victims. Ever-increasing levels of violence coupled with a continuously decreasing age of victims in child sexual abuse material have been observed. Increasingly large amounts of readily available online child sexual abuse material also serve to desensitize viewers, resulting in a demand for ever more extreme material. The use of ICTs affords unprecedented provision of social affirmation for offenders. Readily available child sexual abuse material online may create the false impression of social acceptability. Online communities can also provide fora for sharing strategies to gain access to victims and to evade law enforcement. New Forms of Child Abuse and Exploitation Made-to-order child sexual abuse material can be linked with organized criminal group activities and is a significant and emerging threat. The increasing demand for new images appears to be reflected in escalating prices for such material. viii V.14-03040