Parents eager to share photos of a fun family day out or their child's latest achievement online have been warned by Europol that these seemingly innocent images could be used by sexual predators.

A report which was compiled by The European Financial Coalition against Commercial Sexual Exploitation explored the emergence of a 'retail market' which sells sexualised images of children.

According to the report there has been an increase in the number of websites which feature sexually explicit images and video, with one website promoting the sale of 'sexual images and videos of young people'.

While many of these images are graphic in nature, the police agency are keen to highlight the danger of posting images of children online which can be used by members of the public for 'less than innocent' purposes.

Outlining the risk factors, the report states: "Parents needs to be aware of the existence of social network profiles (which) can access and use photos of people's offspring from their own profiles for less than innocent purposes."

Commenting on the report, Senator Jillian van Turnhout said: "The fact that this area is mutating is very scary. You have both large-scale organisations and individuals engaged in sexual exploitation."
 

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