The Children
in the Pictures

“This brave documentary is the ‘Inconvenient Truth’ moment for the battle against the horrific and fast growing Online Sexual Exploitation of Children…a must see on a topic we simply cannot ignore.”

“Film is powerful insight into how deceptive sex offenders are now that they can hide in the willows of the online world. It shows the commitment of police to continue to try and find children who are being abused. It recognises the vulnerability of children to individuals who are determined to manipulate and then exploit them. It also shows that online child sexual abuse is a form of organised crime that requires the community to organise itself to protect children and young people.”

“The explosion in online child sex abuse highlighted by The Children in the Pictures couldn’t be more shocking. This documentary should be compulsory viewing for every parent, teacher and politician in the country.”

“Every Australian must know about this. Every human must know about this. If we bear witness to the suffering of these children and the people who cause it, who walk amongst us in our community every day – then we can put pressure on our community and governments to do more than just ‘leave it to law enforcement’. Let this film start a national conversation to generate action in addressing the causes of paedophilia – and to make sure we are doing everything in our individual power to look out for children and not ignore warning signs. We cannot bury our heads in the sand.”

“This film shines a light on a scourge on our society that has been in the shadows for too long. It is hard viewing, but it is essential viewing for any adult who cares about our children. I commend the Task Force Argos team for their dedicated commitment to disrupt the offenders that prey on our most vulnerable children. And I hope this film promotes a discussion about the role we can all play to keep our children safe.”

“Children in the Pictures is the first time the role of a victim identification specialist and investigator of online child sexual abuse has been graphically and truthfully portrayed to the public. It’s a real and raw account of the day to day lives of our officers policing this heinous crime. Not only does this documentary force the difficult yet important narrative of child sexual abuse onto the agenda, but it praises the men and women in Task Force Argos, the AFP and the ACCCE who dedicate their lives to saving children from a lifetime of abuse.”

Watching The Children in the Pictures, I took some comfort knowing the great lengths that law enforcement goes to protect children from online abuse. Yet the documentary reveals the enormity of the challenge ahead of us in protecting children from abusers. Mobile technology and social media platforms are increasingly integral to the lives of children and young people, giving abusers unprecedented access to those too young to understand the risks. The combination of limited online regulation, message encryption and a growing reliance on the internet undoubtedly poses new challenges for the child and family welfare sector, and society at large, as we seek to keep children safe in this rapidly changing virtual landscape.