A disturbing new investigation has exposed how online predator networks allegedly exploit gaming platforms, encrypted chat rooms, and social media to manipulate and groom children. Experts warn that these digital ecosystems rely on psychological coercion, fear, and blackmail, making them one of the internet's most dangerous hidden threats. Here's what parents need to know about the growing global concern over online child exploitation.

The Internet’s Darkest Secret: Inside the global network exploiting children online

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used at alarming levels for generating child sexual abuse material (CSAM), with analysts saying that it has reached a tipping point.

The watchdog group Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) said that the creation and distribution of AI-generated CSAM are becoming increasingly sophisticated too.&nbsp;

Unlike in the past, these images and videos are finding their way into public online platforms&nbsp;as opposed to the Dark Web, the internet underbelly accessible only through special browsers like Tor.

Watch: US Prosecutors Intensify Action Against AI-Generated Child Abuse Images

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The increasing photorealism of AI-generated visuals is making it difficult for authorities and watchdog agencies to figure out if these are images of a real child needing help, a situation described by an IWF analyst as a 'tipping point'.

What set alarm bells ringing is that just within the past six months, the number of instances of reported AI-generated child sex abuse imagery crossed what it was in the whole previous year.

In this period, the IWF acted on 74 reports of such content, a sharp rise from 70 in all the 12 months prior.&nbsp;

What's more disturbing is that the AI tools creating these images are trained on real victims' content, complicating efforts to identify genuine cases needing intervention, according to Derek Ray-Hill, the IWF interim chief executive.

“Recent months show that this problem is not going away and is in fact getting worse,” The Guardian newspaper quoted him as saying.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-report-exposes-extreme-levels-of-child-abuse-in-armed-conflicts-especially-in-gaza-and-sudan-730923">Also read: UN report exposes 'extreme levels' of child abuse in armed conflicts, especially in Gaza and Sudan</a> 
 
The abuse content ranges from real-looking deepfake videos to altered inappropriate images of clothed children.

More than half of the flagged material is hosted on servers in Russia and the United States, besides Japan and the Netherlands, according to IWF.

The disturbing news comes amid increasing criticism of social media apps over offering safe haven to abusers, and sextortion.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-catholic-diocese-to-pay-323mn-to-530-child-sex-abuse-survivors-in-largest-diocese-bankruptcy-762507">Also read: New York Catholic diocese to pay $323mn to 530 child sex abuse survivors, in largest US diocese bankruptcy</a> 
 
Users on platforms like Instagram are being blackmailed after being tricked into sharing intimate images, according to the Guardian report.

The image-sharing platform owned by Meta is reportedly launching measures to combat such crimes. 
 
It will automatically blur nude images sent via direct messages and caution users about opening them. They will also have the option to block or report senders of such images.

The feature will be enabled by default for teenage accounts while adults can opt in to join.

(With inputs from agencies)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used at alarming levels for generating child sexual abuse material (CSAM), with analysts saying that it has reached a tipping point.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used at alarming levels for generating child sexual abuse material (CSAM), with analysts saying that it has reached a tipping point. The watchdog group Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) said that the creation and distribution of AI-generated CSAM are becoming increasingly sophisticated too. Unlike in the past, these images and videos are finding their way into public online platforms as opposed to the Dark Web, the internet underbelly accessible only through special browsers like Tor. Watch: US Prosecutors Intensify Action Against AI-Generated Child Abuse Images × The increasing photorealism of AI-generated visuals is making it difficult for authorities and watchdog agencies to figure out if these are images of a real child needing help, a situation described by an IWF analyst as a 'tipping point'. What set alarm bells ringing is that just within the past six months, the number of instances of reported AI-generated child sex abuse imagery crossed what it was in the whole previous year. In this period, the IWF acted on 74 reports of such content, a sharp rise from 70 in all the 12 months prior. What's more disturbing is that the AI tools creating these images are trained on real victims' content, complicating efforts to identify genuine cases needing intervention, according to Derek Ray-Hill, the IWF interim chief executive. “Recent months show that this problem is not going away and is in fact getting worse,” The Guardian newspaper quoted him as saying. Also read: UN report exposes 'extreme levels' of child abuse in armed conflicts, especially in Gaza and Sudan The abuse content ranges from real-looking deepfake videos to altered inappropriate images of clothed children. More than half of the flagged material is hosted on servers in Russia and the United States, besides Japan and the Netherlands, according to IWF. The disturbing news comes amid increasing criticism of social media apps over offering safe haven to abusers, and sextortion. Also read: New York Catholic diocese to pay $323mn to 530 child sex abuse survivors, in largest US diocese bankruptcy Users on platforms like Instagram are being blackmailed after being tricked into sharing intimate images, according to the Guardian report. The image-sharing platform owned by Meta is reportedly launching measures to combat such crimes. It will automatically blur nude images sent via direct messages and caution users about opening them. They will also have the option to block or report senders of such images. The feature will be enabled by default for teenage accounts while adults can opt in to join. (With inputs from agencies)

AI-generated child sex abuse images, videos rising at alarming levels, warn internet watchdogs

In a significant US&nbsp;Senate hearing, executives from leading social media companies, including Meta, TikTok, Snap, and Discord, faced rigorous questioning about their efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation.

Senator Dick Durbin, the Democratic chairman of the Judiciary Committee, highlighted disturbing statistics from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, revealing a surge in financial "sextortion" cases where predators manipulate minors into sharing explicit content, as reported by Reuters.&nbsp;

Durbin attributed the alarming growth in child sexual exploitation to technological changes. During the hearing, a video featuring children recounting their victimisation on social media platforms was played, emphasising the gravity of the issue. Parents, holding pictures of their children, anxiously awaited the CEOs' entrance into the hearing room.

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<h2>Accusations and accountability</h2>

Senator Lindsey Graham, addressing Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, accused the company of having "blood on their hands," holding them accountable for the impact of their products. Graham's strong statements reflected concerns about the potential harm caused by social media platforms.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew made his first appearance before US&nbsp;lawmakers since March, addressing concerns about the app's impact on children's mental health.

Chew emphasised TikTok's commitment to safety, detailing careful product design choices to prevent harm to teenagers and strict community guidelines against exploitation.

Chew revealed that over 170 million Americans use TikTok monthly, acknowledging that platforms like TikTok are exploited by offenders to target children or trade child sexual abuse material. Durbin pointed out that such platforms are becoming tools for offenders to exploit and endanger minors.

CEOs, including Zuckerberg, Yaccarino, Spiegel, and Citron, testified about their commitment to protecting young users. Zuckerberg's written testimony acknowledged the ongoing challenge, with criminals adapting tactics necessitating continuous improvement in responses. Spiegel highlighted Snap's parental controls resembling real-world monitoring, balancing privacy and safety.

Also watch |&nbsp;Biden under pressure over death of three US soldiers in Jordan

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While the committee approved bills last year, including one removing tech firms' immunity from child sexual abuse material laws, none have become law. Senator Amy Klobuchar stressed the need for legislative action, citing social media companies' historical neglect of children's safety and their role in facilitating harmful content and illegal activities.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a significant US Senate hearing, executives from leading social media companies, including Meta, TikTok, Snap, and Discord, faced rigorous questioning about their efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation.

In a significant US Senate hearing, executives from leading social media companies, including Meta, TikTok, Snap, and Discord, faced rigorous questioning about their efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation. Senator Dick Durbin, the Democratic chairman of the Judiciary Committee, highlighted disturbing statistics from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, revealing a surge in financial "sextortion" cases where predators manipulate minors into sharing explicit content, as reported by Reuters. Durbin attributed the alarming growth in child sexual exploitation to technological changes. During the hearing, a video featuring children recounting their victimisation on social media platforms was played, emphasising the gravity of the issue. Parents, holding pictures of their children, anxiously awaited the CEOs' entrance into the hearing room. Also read | Elon Musk 'walks with' Tesla’s Optimus robot, excitement erupts online Accusations and accountability Senator Lindsey Graham, addressing Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, accused the company of having "blood on their hands," holding them accountable for the impact of their products. Graham's strong statements reflected concerns about the potential harm caused by social media platforms. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew made his first appearance before US lawmakers since March, addressing concerns about the app's impact on children's mental health. Chew emphasised TikTok's commitment to safety, detailing careful product design choices to prevent harm to teenagers and strict community guidelines against exploitation. Chew revealed that over 170 million Americans use TikTok monthly, acknowledging that platforms like TikTok are exploited by offenders to target children or trade child sexual abuse material. Durbin pointed out that such platforms are becoming tools for offenders to exploit and endanger minors. CEOs, including Zuckerberg, Yaccarino, Spiegel, and Citron, testified about their commitment to protecting young users. Zuckerberg's written testimony acknowledged the ongoing challenge, with criminals adapting tactics necessitating continuous improvement in responses. Spiegel highlighted Snap's parental controls resembling real-world monitoring, balancing privacy and safety. Also watch | Biden under pressure over death of three US soldiers in Jordan While the committee approved bills last year, including one removing tech firms' immunity from child sexual abuse material laws, none have become law. Senator Amy Klobuchar stressed the need for legislative action, citing social media companies' historical neglect of children's safety and their role in facilitating harmful content and illegal activities. (With inputs from agencies)

Meta, TikTok, X CEOs grilled at US Senate hearing on combating online child exploitation

Mark Zuckerberg and other Meta Platforms Inc executives and directors have been accused in a new lawsuit over their inability to address sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation on their platforms. The Meta-owned social media apps, Facebook and Instagram have found themselves in troubled waters over this accusation.&nbsp;

The complaint was made public late Monday by several pension and investment funds that own Meta stock. They claimed that Meta’s leadership and board have failed to protect the company’s and shareholders’ interests by turning a blind eye to ‘systemic evidence’ of criminal activity.&nbsp;

Talking about the board’s failure to give an explanation on this, the complaint said, “The only logical inference is that the board has consciously decided to permit Meta's platforms to promote and facilitate sex/human trafficking.”&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/dream-job-alert-this-bengaluru-company-is-looking-for-a-chief-meme-officer-at-1200-a-month-check-details-574561">Dream job alert! This Bengaluru company is looking for a 'Chief Meme Officer' at $1200 a month, check details</a>

Meta has rejected the basis of the lawsuit, which was filed in Delaware Chancery Court. Meta released an official statement on Tuesday saying, “We prohibit human exploitation and child sexual exploitation in no uncertain terms. The claims in this lawsuit mischaracterise our efforts to combat this type of activity. Our goal is to prevent people who seek to exploit others from using our platform.”

In 2019, Zuckerberg, Meta’s co-founder and chief executive told Congress that child exploitation was one of the most serious threats that the company focuses on.

Previous similar accusations on Meta

The California-based multi-billionaire tech company Meta has long faced accusations that its platforms are a safe haven for sexual misconduct. In June 2021, the Texas Supreme Court allowed three people who became entangled with their abusers through Facebook to sue, saying Facebook was not a “lawless no man’s land” immune from liability for human trafficking.&nbsp;

Meta separately faces hundreds of lawsuits from families of teenagers and younger children who claimed to suffer mental health problems due to these social media platforms. Some school districts have also filed lawsuits over the problem.&nbsp; 
 
Monday’s lawsuit is also one of many such cases where shareholders sue officers and directors who allegedly breached their duties.&nbsp;

Those behind the suit include the Employees’ Retirement System of the State of Rhode Island, Kiwi Investment Management Wholesale Core Fund, and Teamsters Pension Fund, according to the filing. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

 
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Mark Zuckerberg and other Meta Platforms Inc executives and directors have been accused in a new lawsuit over their inability to address sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation on their platforms.

Mark Zuckerberg and other Meta Platforms Inc executives and directors have been accused in a new lawsuit over their inability to address sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation on their platforms. The Meta-owned social media apps, Facebook and Instagram have found themselves in troubled waters over this accusation. The complaint was made public late Monday by several pension and investment funds that own Meta stock. They claimed that Meta’s leadership and board have failed to protect the company’s and shareholders’ interests by turning a blind eye to ‘systemic evidence’ of criminal activity. Talking about the board’s failure to give an explanation on this, the complaint said, “The only logical inference is that the board has consciously decided to permit Meta's platforms to promote and facilitate sex/human trafficking.” Also Read | Dream job alert! This Bengaluru company is looking for a 'Chief Meme Officer' at $1200 a month, check details Meta has rejected the basis of the lawsuit, which was filed in Delaware Chancery Court. Meta released an official statement on Tuesday saying, “We prohibit human exploitation and child sexual exploitation in no uncertain terms. The claims in this lawsuit mischaracterise our efforts to combat this type of activity. Our goal is to prevent people who seek to exploit others from using our platform.” In 2019, Zuckerberg, Meta’s co-founder and chief executive told Congress that child exploitation was one of the most serious threats that the company focuses on. Previous similar accusations on Meta The California-based multi-billionaire tech company Meta has long faced accusations that its platforms are a safe haven for sexual misconduct. In June 2021, the Texas Supreme Court allowed three people who became entangled with their abusers through Facebook to sue, saying Facebook was not a “lawless no man’s land” immune from liability for human trafficking. Meta separately faces hundreds of lawsuits from families of teenagers and younger children who claimed to suffer mental health problems due to these social media platforms. Some school districts have also filed lawsuits over the problem. Monday’s lawsuit is also one of many such cases where shareholders sue officers and directors who allegedly breached their duties. Those behind the suit include the Employees’ Retirement System of the State of Rhode Island, Kiwi Investment Management Wholesale Core Fund, and Teamsters Pension Fund, according to the filing. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Mark Zuckerberg, Meta sued over their failure to address sex trafficking, child exploitation

The use of child labour has risen in cocoa farms in Ghana and Ivory Coast over the past decade despite industry promises to reduce it, academics said on Monday, largely supporting earlier findings that were questioned by both states.

The prevalence of children doing hazardous work, including using sharp tools, has also gone up in the world's top two cocoa producers, according to the study funded by the US&nbsp;government.

The levels were higher than in 2010 when companies including Mars, Hershey, Nestle and Cargill agreed to reduce the worst forms of child labour in Ghana and Ivory Coast's cocoa sectors by 70% by 2020.

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The two West African countries - which together produce about two-thirds of the world's cocoa - had both questioned the methodology used in an earlier version of the report prepared by researchers from the University of Chicago and seen by Reuters in April.

Ghana again questioned the data in the new report, released on Monday after the US Department of Labor appointed a group of independent experts to conduct a review.

Mars said in a statement it had committed $1 billion to a responsible sourcing strategy and called for legislation to address the root causes of child labour on West African cocoa farms.

Hershey and Nestle referred Reuters to the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) industry group. Cargill did not respond to a request for comment.

Monday's report cut the estimate of the number of children currently working in cocoa production in the two countries to 1.56 million, from more than 2 million in the April study, saying it had changed the ways it weighted its data. It did not give comparative totals from 10 years earlier.

"COMPLEXITY AND SCALE"

But it said the proportion of children from agricultural households in cocoa growing areas that are engaged in child labour in the cocoa sector across Ivory Coast and Ghana had increased to 45% in 2018/19 from 31% in 2008/09.

The corresponding levels for hazardous work had risen to 43% from 30%, it added.

"Despite the efforts made by the governments, industry and other key stakeholders in combating child labour and hazardous child labour during the past 10 years, the child labour and hazardous child labour prevalence rates did not go down," the report said.

It added that rates of child labour had stabilised since the last survey in 2013/14 and school attendance in cocoa growing areas had risen even as cocoa production surged.

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WCF president Richard Scobey said the report showed child labour remains a persistent challenge but that government and company programmes to reduce it were making a difference.

"Targets to reduce child labour were set without fully understanding the complexity and scale of a challenge heavily associated with poverty in rural Africa and did not anticipate the significant increase in cocoa production over the past decade," he added in a statement.

The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), a foundation backed by industry and civil society, said what it called past sampling errors made it difficult to draw accurate comparisons over time.

Ghana's government was quoted in Monday's report questioning the reliability of the figures that showed a reduction in the number of child labourers from the April estimate, while maintaining a similar prevalence rate.

"This raises eyebrows about the reliability of the findings for any meaningful policy formulation and implementation," Ghana's ministry of employment and labour relations said.

Ivory Coast welcomed the revised results and both countries reiterated their commitment to eradicating child labour in cocoa farming.

US lawmakers have criticised the industry and US&nbsp;customs authorities asked cocoa traders earlier this year to report where and when they encounter child labour in their supply chains.

The use of child labour has risen in cocoa farms in Ghana and Ivory Coast over the past decade despite industry promises to reduce it, academics said on Monday, largely supporting earlier findings that were questioned by both states.

The use of child labour has risen in cocoa farms in Ghana and Ivory Coast over the past decade despite industry promises to reduce it, academics said on Monday, largely supporting earlier findings that were questioned by both states. The prevalence of children doing hazardous work, including using sharp tools, has also gone up in the world's top two cocoa producers, according to the study funded by the US government. The levels were higher than in 2010 when companies including Mars, Hershey, Nestle and Cargill agreed to reduce the worst forms of child labour in Ghana and Ivory Coast's cocoa sectors by 70% by 2020. Also read: New African-made films challenge Hollywood stereotypes The two West African countries - which together produce about two-thirds of the world's cocoa - had both questioned the methodology used in an earlier version of the report prepared by researchers from the University of Chicago and seen by Reuters in April. Ghana again questioned the data in the new report, released on Monday after the US Department of Labor appointed a group of independent experts to conduct a review. Mars said in a statement it had committed $1 billion to a responsible sourcing strategy and called for legislation to address the root causes of child labour on West African cocoa farms. Hershey and Nestle referred Reuters to the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) industry group. Cargill did not respond to a request for comment. Monday's report cut the estimate of the number of children currently working in cocoa production in the two countries to 1.56 million, from more than 2 million in the April study, saying it had changed the ways it weighted its data. It did not give comparative totals from 10 years earlier. "COMPLEXITY AND SCALE" But it said the proportion of children from agricultural households in cocoa growing areas that are engaged in child labour in the cocoa sector across Ivory Coast and Ghana had increased to 45% in 2018/19 from 31% in 2008/09. The corresponding levels for hazardous work had risen to 43% from 30%, it added. "Despite the efforts made by the governments, industry and other key stakeholders in combating child labour and hazardous child labour during the past 10 years, the child labour and hazardous child labour prevalence rates did not go down," the report said. It added that rates of child labour had stabilised since the last survey in 2013/14 and school attendance in cocoa growing areas had risen even as cocoa production surged. Also read: Hundreds join hands to fight fire on Africa's highest mountain - Kilimanjaro WCF president Richard Scobey said the report showed child labour remains a persistent challenge but that government and company programmes to reduce it were making a difference. "Targets to reduce child labour were set without fully understanding the complexity and scale of a challenge heavily associated with poverty in rural Africa and did not anticipate the significant increase in cocoa production over the past decade," he added in a statement. The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), a foundation backed by industry and civil society, said what it called past sampling errors made it difficult to draw accurate comparisons over time. Ghana's government was quoted in Monday's report questioning the reliability of the figures that showed a reduction in the number of child labourers from the April estimate, while maintaining a similar prevalence rate. "This raises eyebrows about the reliability of the findings for any meaningful policy formulation and implementation," Ghana's ministry of employment and labour relations said. Ivory Coast welcomed the revised results and both countries reiterated their commitment to eradicating child labour in cocoa farming. US lawmakers have criticised the industry and US customs authorities asked cocoa traders earlier this year to report where and when they encounter child labour in their supply chains.

Child labour rising in West Africa cocoa farms despite efforts: Report

Kids can be seen cleaning windshields or juggling in clown makeup on street corners in Guatemala&#39;s cities. 
 
But there&#39;s no fun involved: many of these children are abandoned street urchins or &quot;rented out&quot; by their parents to networks that exploit them - effectively slaves. 
 
These child workers are a gold mine to the illegal groups that deploy them throughout Guatemala&#39;s capital and other urban centers. 
 
Many are indigenous, and all are from the poor 60 per cent of this Central American country&#39;s population of 16 million. 
 
They are &quot;recruited by groups that arrange deals with the parents, who receive a fee for renting out these kids, who come here to the capital to work or beg for money,&quot; Rosy Palma, director of the charity El Refugio de la Ninez (Childhood Refuge), told AFP. 
 
Her group helps state institutions carry out operations to rescue exploited minors, many of whom come from predominantly indigenous provinces in the mountainous west of Guatemala. 
 
Authorities estimate around one million children work in the country. But there are no known official statistics on how many of them work the streets or beg. 
 
&#39;Forced to work 16-hour days&#39; 
 
&quot;Because of this population&#39;s economic situation, many organised criminal groups have managed to get hold of them,&quot; said Harold Flores, who works as a child protection official within the state prosecutor&#39;s office. 
 
He explained that the children are often forced to work 16-hour days, during which they are told to bring back at least $13 or face punishment. 
 
&quot;In some cases, they are told that they are coming to study, or coming to learn a trade, or that they will have a better life than where they are coming from.&quot; 
 
Usually, though, they are put up in dingy hotels and receive nothing more than bread and water, Flores said. 
 
Palma from Refugio de la Ninez said the phenomenon is lucrative for the gangs running them, and that there is a regular increase in the number of boys, girls and teens being used this way. 
 
The parents who loan them out receive around $25 a week - a significant sum for families barely eking out a living, she said. 
 
An official survey published in late 2015 found that poverty in Guatemala&#39;s indigenous western highlands reached 79 per cent. 
 
Official figures show indigenous Guatemalans making up 40 per cent of the population. But native leaders give a far higher proportion, of 60 per cent. 
 
Child exploitation is concentrated in Guatemala&#39;s central province, where the capital is located, and in the west and in towns along the Mexican border in the southwest, according to Refugio de la Ninez. 
 
&#39;State has not done enough&#39;&nbsp; 
 
The prosecutor&#39;s office said that, nationally, 68 children were rescued from these labor gangs in the first half of this year - a modest figure given the official estimate of the scale of the problem. 
 
Gloria Castro, a child and adolescent defender in the Ombudsman&#39;s office for human rights, noted that the operations were insufficient. 
 
&quot;Unfortunately, the state, through its institutions, has not done nearly enough on this issue,&quot; she said, urging prosecutors to step up probes into human trafficking rings and the government to focus on families battling poverty. 
 
Her office also sees the exploitation of children as one of the motivators for the big migration flow from Central America to the United States. 
 
It has found several of the children made to work in Guatemala&#39;s streets ended up moving to Mexico or the United States to escape their slavery. 
 
(AFP)

Child workers are a gold mine to the illegal groups that deploy them throughout Guatemala's capital and other urban centres

Kids can be seen cleaning windshields or juggling in clown makeup on street corners in Guatemala's cities. But there's no fun involved: many of these children are abandoned street urchins or "rented out" by their parents to networks that exploit them - effectively slaves. These child workers are a gold mine to the illegal groups that deploy them throughout Guatemala's capital and other urban centers. Many are indigenous, and all are from the poor 60 per cent of this Central American country's population of 16 million. They are "recruited by groups that arrange deals with the parents, who receive a fee for renting out these kids, who come here to the capital to work or beg for money," Rosy Palma, director of the charity El Refugio de la Ninez (Childhood Refuge), told AFP. Her group helps state institutions carry out operations to rescue exploited minors, many of whom come from predominantly indigenous provinces in the mountainous west of Guatemala. Authorities estimate around one million children work in the country. But there are no known official statistics on how many of them work the streets or beg. 'Forced to work 16-hour days' "Because of this population's economic situation, many organised criminal groups have managed to get hold of them," said Harold Flores, who works as a child protection official within the state prosecutor's office. He explained that the children are often forced to work 16-hour days, during which they are told to bring back at least $13 or face punishment. "In some cases, they are told that they are coming to study, or coming to learn a trade, or that they will have a better life than where they are coming from." Usually, though, they are put up in dingy hotels and receive nothing more than bread and water, Flores said. Palma from Refugio de la Ninez said the phenomenon is lucrative for the gangs running them, and that there is a regular increase in the number of boys, girls and teens being used this way. The parents who loan them out receive around $25 a week - a significant sum for families barely eking out a living, she said. An official survey published in late 2015 found that poverty in Guatemala's indigenous western highlands reached 79 per cent. Official figures show indigenous Guatemalans making up 40 per cent of the population. But native leaders give a far higher proportion, of 60 per cent. Child exploitation is concentrated in Guatemala's central province, where the capital is located, and in the west and in towns along the Mexican border in the southwest, according to Refugio de la Ninez. 'State has not done enough' The prosecutor's office said that, nationally, 68 children were rescued from these labor gangs in the first half of this year - a modest figure given the official estimate of the scale of the problem. Gloria Castro, a child and adolescent defender in the Ombudsman's office for human rights, noted that the operations were insufficient. "Unfortunately, the state, through its institutions, has not done nearly enough on this issue," she said, urging prosecutors to step up probes into human trafficking rings and the government to focus on families battling poverty. Her office also sees the exploitation of children as one of the motivators for the big migration flow from Central America to the United States. It has found several of the children made to work in Guatemala's streets ended up moving to Mexico or the United States to escape their slavery. (AFP)

'Rented out' by parents, child labourers toil in Guatemala's streets

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