The CyberTipline: America’s front line against online child sexual exploitation
Today, the CyberTipline stands as the world’s largest reporting system for online child sexual exploitation, processing tens of millions of reports each year. Behind every report is the possibility of a child in need of protection, making the system a vital tool for identifying victims, uncovering abuse and helping bring offenders to justice.
Operated since 1998 by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), our CyberTipline serves as the designated place in the U.S. for reporting suspected online child sexual exploitation. Because the internet has no borders, we receive reports from around the world.
It starts with a tip. Someone, somewhere, sees something that isn’t right and makes a report either online at www.cybertipline.org or by calling 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
It might be:
- A tech company detecting abusive images on its platform
- A parent who finds disturbing messages on a child’s phone
- A teen who’s being threatened or exploited online
- A bystander who comes across illegal content
Most often it’s a technology company—social media platforms, messaging apps, online gaming sites—flagging abusive material or suspicious behavior on its systems. Federal law requires all U.S.-based electronic service providers to report apparent child sexual abuse material (CSAM), online enticement and child sex trafficking they discover on their platforms.
But CyberTipline reports also come from parents, teachers, teens or bystanders who encounter something disturbing online. In some cases, victims themselves reach out.
Once a report is submitted, it doesn’t disappear into a database. Our trained analysts review it, assessing what kind of sexual exploitation is being reported, whether a child may be in imminent danger and where the incident might be happening. The work is both technical and deeply human.
Analysts also take the millions of graphic images and videos we receive and use specialized tools to recognize known abusive material, helping us quickly distinguish between previously identified children and those who may require urgent attention.
The information we gather is then made available to the appropriate law enforcement agency for potential investigation:
- Local police
- Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces in each state
- State investigators
- Federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations
- International law enforcement partners
What happens next varies. Some reports to law enforcement lead to immediate intervention—situations in which a child is identified and helped quickly. Others become part of longer investigations, where multiple tips are needed to build a case. And some don’t have enough information to move forward right away but are retained by law enforcement in case new details emerge.
We also work with law enforcement to help identify children in these abusive images and remove abusive content. When we identify CSAM or other exploitative content, we notify platforms and hosting providers and track whether the material has been removed and how quickly. And we offer support to victims.
What began as a groundbreaking initiative has evolved into a critical frontline resource in the global fight against child sexual exploitation, adapting to emerging technologies and new threats while remaining focused on one mission: protecting children.
Learn more about the CyberTipline: https://www.ncmec.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline/cybertiplinedata
Learn more about Take It Down: https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/
Learn more about "No Escape Room": https://www.ncmec.org/blog/2024/no-escape-room-launches-with-interactive-experience