Social media and online gaming used to 'target, recruit, and control children'

Another stakeholder said: 'Many kids will talk about being contacted by a stranger, or being in a game like Roblox, and somebody saying they wanted to see them naked and share their bed.' Picture: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg

Many child victims of human trafficking are going unidentified in Ireland, according to a new report which says that child victims are being identified first as criminals involved in activities including the movement of drugs.

The report from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), published on Wednesday, says that social media, online communication tools, and gaming environments are being used to “target, recruit, and control children”.