Continuing discussion of human and sex trafficking, we’ll address “extortion” and steps being taken to address these appalling crimes made easier by the internet and artificial intelligence. Extortion is the coercion of child victims into sending sexualized images to offenders online through social media, online games, or by lurking in chat rooms and live streams after gaining victims’ trust. The victim, usually a young child, is then blackmailed by the threat of exposing the image to others. Less than a quarter of minors report to law enforcement. 85% cite shame as their reason to stay silent. The Internet Watch Foundation reported a 129% increase in self-generated child sexual abuse materials in 2022 attributed to online grooming or sextortion. Similarly, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported a 300% increase in incidents reported to their CyberTipline. Offenders are frequently part of international criminal gangs with highly sophisticated networks. Agencies combating these crimes include NCMEC and Departments of Homeland Security and Justice, which are working to identify and rescue victims and apprehend perpetrators. As citizens, we can: learn about signs of child sex trafficking and the methods used and sharing this knowledge with others; contact our local representatives to support legislation aimed at prevention and victim protection; participate in advocacy campaigns and petitions; monitor and guide children’s online activity; and report suspicious online behavior or content to authorities such as NCMEC‘s CyberTipline.