Overview

• Jugendschutz.net documented 17,630 youth protection violations in 2024, over twice the average from 2021 to 2023, with sexualized violence accounting for 89% of cases.
• Reports of sexualized violence against minors tripled from 2023, reaching nearly 15,700 cases, fueled by the rise of AI-generated deepfake content used for blackmail and harassment.
• Extremist content violations rose to 1,245 cases, with right-wing and Islamist actors targeting children through social media and gaming platforms.
• Major platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, often failed to promptly address harmful content without official intervention, highlighting gaps in moderation and enforcement.
• Jugendschutz.net and policymakers are pressing for mandatory age verification and stricter enforcement of digital protections under the EU Digital Services Act.