Sexual violence against children: Police register more cases

Sexualized violence against children has increased significantly, according to police records. The number of cases involving sexual abuse of children under 14 years old rose to 17,126 in 2025—a 4.7 percent increase compared to 2024. Among adolescents aged 14 to 18, the figure climbed to 1,239 cases, marking a 4 percent rise. These figures were presented by Kerstin Claus, federal commissioner against sexual abuse of children and youth, alongside Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and the head of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), Holger Münch, during a press conference. The statistics reflect only reported cases, as noted by Dobrindt, who emphasized that the so-called “dark field” of unreported incidents likely far exceeds these numbers. Claus pointed out that while the data highlights the severity of the issue, it does not fully capture how frequently young people become targets of offenders, particularly online. She highlighted that cyber grooming, which involves predators seeking contact with children via the internet to encourage sexual activities, is only punishable if it directly targets minors under 14. Despite this legal limitation, more than one-third of all teenagers reportedly experience such behavior. Exploitation through intimate images, known as sextortion, is another form of digital abuse. Although illegal, it does not fall under sexual offenses, meaning it is excluded from official reports. This distinction means that cases of exploitation via blackmail using private photos remain outside the scope of the current statistics. Meanwhile, crimes involving child pornography slightly declined, dropping by 2.7 percent to 41,677 cases. However, crimes linked to youth pornography reached a peak, increasing by nearly 20 percent to 11,515 cases. Dobrindt attributed the surge in youth-related sexual crimes partly to advancements in artificial intelligence, which criminals can exploit to alter existing abusive material. He described the findings as a “dramatic result,” suggesting that AI tools make it easier for offenders to manipulate content. This technological factor adds complexity to efforts aimed at combating such crimes. The Federal Criminal Police Office received over 100,000 legally relevant tips from the U.S.-based organization National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). These tips often include suspicious IP addresses, helping German authorities track potential offenders. In contrast, the BKA receives around 2,000 tips annually from European providers, which Münch called a “manageable success.” He credited this limited effectiveness to differences in legal frameworks across Europe, noting that the U.S. model serves as a benchmark. Political responses have varied. Konstantin von Notz, a Green Party member in the Bundestag, criticized the government’s focus on mass surveillance instruments rather than targeted, legally secure measures. He questioned the legality of the proposed three-month storage of IP addresses, a provision included in a recently introduced law. His concerns were met with a dismissive response from the government, which denied any “significant constitutional or EU law risks.” As discussions continue, the challenge remains balancing security with privacy rights, especially in light of evolving technologies and global cooperation efforts. The situation underscores the need for updated legal strategies to address the complexities of modern-day child exploitation.