The child caught in the web

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 25, 2026

Child protection experts have urged authorities to adopt trauma-informed, victim-centered approaches when handling cases of minors involved in producing or distributing sexually explicit material, as these children are often victims of grooming and coercion. They warn that punitive responses risk silencing affected youths and advocate for therapeutic interventions and diversion programs to better address the complex factors behind their involvement.

KUALA LUMPUR — Experts in child protection have urged authorities to adopt a more nuanced approach when addressing cases involving minors who produce or distribute sexually explicit material online, emphasizing that these children may themselves be victims of grooming, coercion, or prior abuse.

Datuk Dr Amar Singh-HSS, a consultant paediatrician and advocate for children with disabilities, stressed the importance of understanding the circumstances leading to a child’s involvement. He highlighted that children engaged in such activities might be simultaneously victims and perpetrators, influenced by complex factors including developmental understanding and external pressures.

“Even when teenagers claim to have acted independently for financial gain, a closer look often reveals manipulation by adults or older peers orchestrating the content or sales,” Dr Amar said in an interview. He pointed to the phenomenon of “trauma bonding,” where a child may perceive their participation as an expression of affection, which conceals the underlying sexual exploitation. Previous sexual abuse may also distort a child’s grasp of personal boundaries, complicating their behaviour and decisions.

His remarks followed findings from the recent Ops Pedo 3.0, a police operation during which some detained minors were found not only consuming child sexual abuse material (CSAM) but also producing and marketing sexually explicit anime-style content online. Dr Amar called for a trauma-informed, victim-centred strategy that prioritizes protection and therapeutic interventions over punitive measures.

Supporting this viewpoint, child advocate Datuk Dr Hartini Zainudin noted that children rarely make abrupt decisions to create sexualized content but are instead gradually drawn into harmful online networks. She described a pathway beginning with early exposure, followed by normalization from older individuals, and reinforcement through peer attention, a sense of belonging, or financial incentives.

Dr Hartini also highlighted a concerning trend involving animated or illustrated sexually explicit material, which can appear less threatening to children precisely because it does not depict real individuals. Nevertheless, she affirmed such content still fuels demand and is instrumental in grooming.

Financial gain from such material can pose further barriers for minors wishing to disengage, particularly those facing loneliness, familial difficulties, or economic hardship. To address these challenges, she advocated for diversion programs, counselling, child-friendly judicial processes, and psychosocial support tailored to the needs of affected children.

“If the response focuses solely on shame and punishment, children may remain silent, allowing the adult perpetrators behind these networks to continue operating unchecked,” Dr Hartini warned. Both experts emphasized that protective and rehabilitative responses are essential to breaking the cycle of exploitation and safeguarding vulnerable youth.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.