OpenAI has reported a dramatic rise in child exploitation incident reports submitted to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). During the first half of 2025, the company sent 80 times more reports than in the same period of 2024, according to recent disclosures.

NCMEC’s CyberTipline acts as a key federal mechanism for reporting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and related exploitation. Legally, companies are obliged to report suspected abuse, which NCMEC then reviews and forwards to law enforcement for investigation.

Experts note that fluctuations in report numbers don’t always reflect actual increases in abuse. Increased reporting can sometimes result from improvements in automated moderation systems or changes in reporting protocols. However, such a sharp rise warrants concern and further scrutiny into the platform’s safety measures.

As online platforms become more sophisticated, maintaining rigorous monitoring is vital to protect vulnerable children. Industry specialists emphasize that transparency and continuous improvement in moderation tools are essential to combat exploitation effectively.

David Nield

Dave is a freelance tech journalist with over 20 years covering gadgets, apps, and the web. From Stockport, England, he covers news, features, and reviews for TechRadar, focusing on phones, tablets, and wearables. He ensures top weekend breaking news and has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci, and others. He edited PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook for years. Read me on x.com or linkedin.