Skip to Main content

17.47°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Sports Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Nov 30, 2023 7:48 PM - Connect News

More than 16,000 cases of child online sextortion reported in B.C.this year

Share On

more-than-16-000-cases-of-child-online-sextortion-reported-in-b-c-this-year

In 2023, sextortion cases have doubled to 16000 cases. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

More than 16,000 cases of online child sextortion have been reported in BC this year. In the wake of the recent suicide of a 12-year-old boy in Prince George, police and children's advocates are urging parents and caregivers to talk to their children. Carson Cleland's parents say he was a victim of sextortion, and according to police, such cases are on the rise.

The BC RCMP's Integrated Child Exploitation, or ICE, unit says more than 8,000 cases were referred to them by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 2022.

In 2023 this number has doubled to 16000 cases. Signy Arnason of the Canadian Center for Child Protection says that they are facing a public health emergency right now. According to BC's Attorney General, the province has introduced the Intimate Image Protection Act to try to prevent online sextortion.

Latest news

Surrey municipal election nominations close with seven mayoral candidates

Nomination proceedings have closed for the upcoming municipal election in Surrey, with about 100 candidates seeking 15 positions, including one mayor, eight city councillors and six school trustees. Seven candidates are running for mayor: Linda Annis, Brenda Locke, Doug McCallum, Honveer Singh Randhawa, Mike Starchuk, Troy Van-Vliet and Eagle Emans. A total of 65 candidates are contesting the eight city council seats, while 23 candidates are running for the six school trustee positions. Among the school trustee candidates are Harjit Kaur Bhullar, Amrit Warring, Gurleen Kaur Chahal, Meena Kocha

CanadaSep 14, 2026

27-Year-Old Punjabi Man Arrested in Brampton Carjacking Attempts and Knife Attack

Peel Regional Police in Ontario have arrested a 27-year-old Punjabi man in connection with a series of carjacking attempts, a home invasion and a knife attack in Brampton. According to police, the incidents began around 10 p.m. on Sept. 6 near Clockwork Drive and Creditview Road. Police allege that the accused, Lovpreet Mann, attempted to steal a vehicle and stabbed the vehicle owner, who was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Shortly afterward, Mann allegedly kicked in the door of a nearby home and demanded the vehicle keys. After that attempt failed, he alleged

36-year-old-man-dies-in-edmonton-police-shooting-asirt-to-investigate

AlbertaSep 14, 2026

36-Year-Old Man Dies in Edmonton Police Shooting, ASIRT to Investigate

A 36-year-old man has died after Edmonton police officers opened fire during an incident in west Edmonton on Sunday morning. Alberta’s police watchdog, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), has been notified and will investigate the shooting. Edmonton police say officers were called to a home following reports that a woman and an infant had been shot. When officers arrived, they encountered a man with a firearm who opened the front door. Police say the man was given verbal directions but did not comply. Three officers then discharged their firearms. The man was arrested but die

AlbertaSep 14, 2026

Calgary-Shaw Byelection: Voters Head to Polls Today

Calgary voters are heading to the polls today for a provincial byelection in Calgary-Shaw, a longtime United Conservative stronghold that has been without a legislature member since former cabinet minister Rebecca Schulz resigned in May. Five candidates are contesting the seat, including Mike Derry of Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party and Kyle Campbell of Naheed Nenshi’s NDP. Derry has focused his campaign on affordability, education, health care and government transparency, while Campbell has made health care a key issue. The other candidates are teacher Kyle Joseph of th

trump-signals-canada-u-s-trade-deal-could-be-reached-soon

CanadaSep 14, 2026

Trump Signals Canada-U.S. Trade Deal Could Be Reached Soon

U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that a trade deal between the United States and Canada could be reached soon, despite the ongoing trade war between the two countries. Speaking to reporters in Ireland over the weekend, Trump said relations with Mexico were expected to be very good and that relations with Canada were also good. However, he accused Ottawa of discriminating against the United States for the past 50 years. Trump also repeated his claim that the U.S. does not need Canadian goods, arguing that Canada’s business depends heavily on trade with the United States. Formal negot

Related News

Surrey municipal election nominations close with seven mayoral candidates

Surrey municipal election nominations close with seven mayoral candidates

Nomination proceedings have closed for the upcoming municipal election in Surrey, with about 100 candidates seeking 15 positions, including one mayor, eight city councillors and six school trustees. Seven candidates are running for mayor: Linda Annis, Brenda Locke, Doug McCallum, Honveer Singh Randhawa, Mike Starchuk, Troy Van-Vliet and Eagle Emans. A total of 65 candidates are contesting the eight city council seats, while 23 candidates are running for the six school trustee positions. Among the school trustee candidates are Harjit Kaur Bhullar, Amrit Warring, Gurleen Kaur Chahal, Meena Kocha

27-Year-Old Punjabi Man Arrested in Brampton Carjacking Attempts and Knife Attack

27-Year-Old Punjabi Man Arrested in Brampton Carjacking Attempts and Knife Attack

Peel Regional Police in Ontario have arrested a 27-year-old Punjabi man in connection with a series of carjacking attempts, a home invasion and a knife attack in Brampton. According to police, the incidents began around 10 p.m. on Sept. 6 near Clockwork Drive and Creditview Road. Police allege that the accused, Lovpreet Mann, attempted to steal a vehicle and stabbed the vehicle owner, who was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Shortly afterward, Mann allegedly kicked in the door of a nearby home and demanded the vehicle keys. After that attempt failed, he alleged

Trump Signals Canada-U.S. Trade Deal Could Be Reached Soon

Trump Signals Canada-U.S. Trade Deal Could Be Reached Soon

U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that a trade deal between the United States and Canada could be reached soon, despite the ongoing trade war between the two countries. Speaking to reporters in Ireland over the weekend, Trump said relations with Mexico were expected to be very good and that relations with Canada were also good. However, he accused Ottawa of discriminating against the United States for the past 50 years. Trump also repeated his claim that the U.S. does not need Canadian goods, arguing that Canada’s business depends heavily on trade with the United States. Formal negot

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

Broadcasting Notice of Consultation

BC Children's Hospital