‘Virtual’ girl identifies 1000 child sex predators

A child-rights organisation in the Netherlands has used a computer-generated girl to help them find child sex abusers on the internet.

An undated computer generated image made availbale by Terres des Hommes Netherlands shows virtual character 'Sweetie''. (AAP)

Terre Des Hommes created "Sweetie", a 10-year-old girl from the Philippines, and put her online.

Thousands of men from around the globe approached Sweetie.

"In only 10 weeks we traced one thousand men from all over the world who were willing to pay Sweetie to perform sexual acts in front of the webcam", Albert Jaap Santbrink said of Terre Des Hommes.

"We have great concerns about the new upcoming phenomenon called webcam child sex tourism," Mr Santbrink said.

The group identified 1000 predators and has passed their details to Interpol.

The United Nations estimates there are 750,000 paedophiles constantly prowling online in a bid to gain contact with children.

Sweetie's creators said law enforcement agencies need to be more aggressive in their efforts to unmask these criminals.