There has been a staggering 1,325% rise in AI-generated abuse material globally between 2023 and 2024, a trend that continues to pressure Asian legal frameworks to modernize.
Exploitation patterns vary significantly across the continent, driven by local economic disparities and migration routes.
The Crisis of Adolescent Exploitation in Asia: A 2025-2026 Perspective Exploited Teens Asia
Human Trafficking in Asia: a Hidden Scourge - Grow Think Tank
Digital exploitation now includes "compensated dating" (37.9% of cases), sextortion, and the livestreaming of abuse for a global customer base. 2. Key Hotspots and Regional Trends There has been a staggering 1,325% rise in
India and Nepal are major hubs for sex trafficking, with an estimated 60% of female victims trafficked into India being adolescents between 12 and 16 years old.
Thailand remains a primary destination for victims trafficked from Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. In the Philippines, international law enforcement operations have targeted large-scale "cybersex" dens where local youth are exploited for foreign consumers. In the Philippines
In recent reporting, teenagers aged 14 to 16 are the most frequent victims of digital sex crimes, accounting for 46% of reported cases.
The most significant trend in 2025 is the migration of exploitation from physical venues to online platforms.
While sexual exploitation is a major focus, labor and criminal exploitation are rising sharply.