Tele2 Blocks 7.5 Million Attempts to Access Child Abuse Material in 2025

In 2025, Swedish telecom operator Tele2 blocked approximately 7.5 million attempts by users to access websites containing child sexual abuse material, marking an increase of nearly 2 million attempts compared to the previous year. These blocking efforts form part of Tele2's commitment to preventing the distribution and consumption of such illegal and harmful content online.

Tele2 receives updated blocking lists from law enforcement agencies including Interpol, and organizations like the Canadian CP3/Project Arachnid and the Swedish NGO ECPAT, dedicated to combating child exploitation. These lists allow Tele2 and other Swedish internet service providers to identify and restrict access to websites distributing images and videos depicting child sexual abuse.

Jonas Lindström, the head of corporate security at Tele2, clarified that the rise in blocking attempts does not necessarily reflect an increase in actual abuse cases but may be related to the growing availability of abusive content online combined with improved detection and listing by authorities. The majority of blocked access attempts originated from users within Sweden, although some came from Tele2 customers in the Baltic region.

When users attempt to visit blocked sites, they are redirected to a police information page outlining the legal consequences of possessing or distributing child abuse material and offering resources for those struggling with such impulses. Lindström emphasized Tele2's societal responsibility as an internet provider to shield vulnerable children and safeguard its customers from these harmful contents.

Looking ahead, Tele2 aims to strengthen cross-border cooperation with more organizations to tackle challenges presented by AI-generated abusive material and darknet content. While internet providers in Sweden are not legally mandated to perform these blocks, there is a clear societal expectation and Tele2 is determined to uphold this standard in its ongoing efforts to combat child exploitation online.