Avatars of Exploitation: Investigating Online Games for Child Sexual Abuse Content and CSAM Creation (REPEAT)

This presentation explores the intersection of online gaming, child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and the growing concern over how digital spaces can be manipulated for exploitative purposes. Specifically, it focuses on the emergence of gaming platforms where users engage in content and activities involving child sexual abuse themes, such as the creation of CSAM-based avatars and models, abusive role-playing scenarios, and illicit content sharing. Drawing on case studies, the presentation investigates how these gaming environments may serve as gateways to more clandestine corners of the internet, including dark web child predator forums and CSAM distribution networks. By analyzing trends in user behavior, platform vulnerabilities, and the overlap between gaming and illicit online communities, the presentation aims to provide a deeper understanding of this complex issue. Attendees will gain insights into user behavior, the challenges in investigating and responding to such sites and user engagement, and strategies for law enforcement, tech companies, and policy makers to address these concerns in a comprehensive and proactive manner.