Only a fraction of child sex abuse images reported are investigated by gardaí

Gardaí are investigating just a fraction of thousands of reports by tech and social media companies each year about online material linked to child sex abuse being viewed, downloaded, shared, or produced in Ireland.

Gardaí are investigating just a fraction of thousands of reports by tech and social media companies each year about online material linked to child sex abuse being viewed, downloaded, shared, and/or produced in Ireland.

Last year, 160 investigations were undertaken by gardaí, despite more than 9,000 reports of potentially abusive material being flagged by external agencies and through a Department of Justice hotline.