CyberTipline Reports Fuel Increase in Child Exploitation Arrests Across Texas

Law enforcement across Texas and beyond are seeing a rise in arrests tied to online child exploitation, and many of those cases begin with a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). In just the past year, NCMEC referred over 88,000 CyberTipline reports to Texas law enforcement agencies, as child predators increasingly use digital platforms to contact, groom, and exploit minors.

Locally, CyberTip reports have led to multiple arrests in Galveston County, including cases in Texas City and La Marque where individuals were charged with possession of child pornography following NCMEC tips. These reports often contain detailed evidence—images, chat logs, or user data—that helps investigators identify suspects and secure charges.

Jennifer Newman, Executive Director of NCMEC Texas, spoke to KGTX 7 and said the volume of reports is not only increasing, but the nature of the threats is evolving rapidly.

“We’ve already surpassed our total of online enticement reports from last year—and we’re only halfway through this year,” Newman told KGTX. “Those numbers have certainly skyrocketed.”

Online enticement refers to cases where adults contact minors online, often through social media, games, or messaging apps, with the goal of grooming them for sexual abuse. Newman explained that many of the offenders simply follow where the children are.

“If there’s an app that comes out next week that becomes popular with children, that’s where the offenders are going to go,” she said.

Growing Crime Trends

In addition to traditional grooming, NCMEC is now seeing a sharp rise in financial sextortion cases. These typically involve individuals who trick or coerce children into sending explicit content, then demand payment to keep that content private. In some cases, threats escalate quickly, leading to severe emotional distress or worse.

Artificial intelligence has introduced another layer of concern. NCMEC has begun receiving CyberTips involving AI-generated child sexual abuse material—synthetic photos or videos that appear to depict real children in explicit scenarios. Some are created using deepfake-style technology, while others are made by manipulating innocent photos.

“We have more reports coming in involving AI,” Newman said. “Some of that is because AI platforms are making reports directly to us. But even when they don’t, members of the public and social media users are submitting content that includes AI-generated material.”

New Legislative Measures

To address this growing issue, Congress passed the “Take It Down Act” in May 2025. The new federal law makes it illegal to create or distribute AI-generated or digitally altered material involving minors in a sexual context. Newman said the law is a critical step toward closing a legal gap that previously left victims and investigators with limited recourse.

“There wasn’t a lot of legislation to turn to before,” she said. “Now that it’s at the federal level, it’s a step forward—and most states are working on their own laws for AI-related crimes.”

Current Challenges

Despite growing technological tools and stronger laws, NCMEC is still facing massive challenges. The CyberTipline received more than 20 million reports nationwide in 2024, many containing large batches of image and video files. Analysts must evaluate each tip and send verified cases to the appropriate law enforcement agency—sometimes in a matter of hours.

Newman emphasized that technology itself isn’t inherently the problem. “The tech isn’t evil—it’s the way it’s wrongfully used,” she said. “We rely on our partners and our systems to help us get through the volume.”

The Parent’s Role

Parents and guardians play a key role in prevention. Newman advises that adults stay aware of the apps their children use and whether those apps allow messaging, photo sharing, or live video. Many popular platforms offer little oversight and can be exploited by bad actors within minutes of a child going online.

If anyone suspects child exploitation, tips can be submitted at http://www.cybertipline.org. Reports may be made anonymously.

As the internet continues to evolve, Newman said the community must stay alert, informed, and willing to act.