Fight Internet Child Abuse
The urgent need to combat child sexual abuse material on the internet
As a society, we have a responsibility to protect our children and keep them safe from harm. Unfortunately, in recent years, the rise of child sexual abuse material on the internet has become a serious issue. This is a global problem, and the US alone reported over 45 million images and videos of child sexual abuse material last year.
It’s a shocking reality, and the details behind these numbers are even more distressing. More than 60% of the images feature children under 12 years old, and most of them include extreme acts of sexual violence. Abusers use chatrooms dedicated to the abuse of children, where they gain rank and notoriety with more abuse and more victims.
The technology has played a significant role in easing the spread of child sexual abuse material. Unfortunately, our response as a society has not been adequate. Our approach today is disconnected, where law enforcement works in one jurisdiction, companies focus on their platform, and NGOs work on their objectives. The data is rarely shared, and this disconnected approach is not working.
At Thorn, we believe in redesigning our response to combat child sexual abuse material. We aim to build the technology to connect law enforcement, NGOs, and companies to eliminate child sexual abuse material from the internet ultimately. We believe that our technology will connect the dots and arm everyone on the frontline with the tools they need to fight against this epidemic.
We have started working with law enforcement to build software that identifies new victims and stops abuse faster. Our software has reduced the time it takes to get to a child by more than 65% in 38 countries. Our next horizon is to build software that helps companies identify and remove this content from their platforms.
We understand that it can’t just be about software and data. It needs to be about scale and the will of society to combat this evil. We must activate thousands of officers, hundreds of companies worldwide if technology will allow us to outrun the perpetrators and dismantle the communities that are normalizing child sexual abuse.
We must act now. The first generation of children whose abuse has gone viral is now young adults. We cannot ignore the impact this is having on our children any longer. We must invest in our law enforcement, work with companies, and use our technology to give these kids a voice and take something out of the darkness so that every child can simply be a kid.
How Technology Can Connect Law Enforcement and NGOs to Combat Child Sexual Abuse Material
The fight against child sexual abuse material on the internet requires collaboration and coordination between law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and technology companies. This is where technology can play a crucial role.
One of the primary ways technology can help is by connecting the dots between different agencies and organizations. This means creating a system where data on child sexual abuse material is shared and analyzed in real-time. By doing so, law enforcement agencies can identify new victims faster, and stop the abuse before it spreads.
For instance, software can translate every file containing child sexual abuse material into a unique string of numbers, also known as a hash. This allows law enforcement agencies to use this information in investigations, or for companies to remove the content from their platforms, without having to look at every image and video each time.
However, the problem is that there are millions of these hashes in databases all over the world, making it challenging to identify which ones represent children who have already been rescued or need to be identified. Therefore, the first and most basic premise is that all of this data must be connected.
This data, combined with software on a global scale, can have a transformative impact in this space. Law enforcement agencies can identify new victims faster, stopping abuse and those producing the content. Companies can use this information as clues to identify the hundreds of millions of files in circulation today, pulling them down, and stopping the upload of new material before it goes viral.
Moreover, technology can help small-to-medium-sized companies that may not have the money or resources to do this work. By partnering with larger companies, they can benefit from this shared technology and database. In this way, we can leverage technology to scale the fight against child sexual abuse material on the internet.
Overall, it is clear that technology can be a powerful tool in the fight against child sexual abuse material on the internet. By connecting law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and companies, we can make a significant impact in identifying and removing this content from the internet, ultimately creating a safer and healthier world for our children.
The Alarming Rise of Child Sexual Abuse Material on the Internet
Child sexual abuse material is a disturbing and pervasive issue in our society. The advent of the internet has unfortunately made it easier for abusers to share and distribute such material globally. In the late 1980s, child pornography, or as it should be called, child sexual abuse material, was almost entirely eliminated thanks to new laws and increased prosecutions. However, with the rise of the internet, the market for child sexual abuse material exploded.
Today, the amount of child sexual abuse material in circulation is massive and growing. In the United States alone, more than 45 million images and videos of child sexual abuse material were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children last year, which is nearly double the amount from the previous year. These numbers are hard to comprehend, especially when we consider that more than 60% of the images feature children under 12 and most of them include extreme acts of sexual violence.
Abusers are able to connect and cheer each other on in chat rooms dedicated to the abuse of children. They gain rank and notoriety by producing more abuse and having more victims. In this market, the content itself has become currency. It’s evident that abusers have been quick to leverage new technologies, but unfortunately, our response as a society has not kept up.
It’s time to take action and address this epidemic. We must redesign our response to this issue and utilize new technologies to combat it. This is exactly what organizations like Thorn are doing. They’re building the technology to connect law enforcement, NGOs, and companies with the tools they need to ultimately eliminate child sexual abuse material from the internet.
It’s important to recognize that the rise of child sexual abuse material on the internet is not just a problem for law enforcement or NGOs to tackle alone. This is a problem for everyone to address. It’s time for us to collectively take responsibility and work towards a safer and more secure online world for our children.
Using Hash Technology to Combat Child Sexual Abuse Material
Child sexual abuse material is a horrendous crime that has been made easier by the internet. Fortunately, there is a technology that can help combat this crime: hash technology. A hash is essentially a fingerprint for each image or video, a unique string of numbers that can be used to identify the content without having to look at it. This technology allows law enforcement to quickly identify new victims and to stop the abuse and those producing the content.
However, there is a problem with this technology: there are hundreds of millions of these hashes sitting in siloed databases all around the world, making it difficult to know which ones represent children who have already been rescued or still need to be identified. This is why it is essential to connect all of this data so that we can use it to help stop the spread of child sexual abuse material.
By using hash technology combined with software on a global scale, we can transform how we combat this crime. It can help companies identify and remove child sexual abuse material from their platforms, and law enforcement can use it to identify new victims faster, stopping the abuse and those producing the content.
Thorn, a nonprofit organization, has built the technology to connect all of these dots, providing tools to everyone on the front lines to ultimately eliminate child sexual abuse material from the internet. The more companies and law enforcement agencies that participate, the smarter the system gets, allowing for even greater impact.
It’s important to note that it’s not just about software and data, but also about scale. We need to activate thousands of officers and hundreds of companies around the world if technology will allow us to outrun the perpetrators and dismantle the communities that are normalizing child sexual abuse today. It’s time for all of us to take action and invest in a future where every child can simply be a kid.
The Importance of a Connected Approach to Combat Child Sexual Abuse Material on the Internet
Child sexual abuse material is a heinous crime that plagues the internet, and it is imperative that we take a connected approach to combat it. The interconnectedness of the internet has allowed for the widespread distribution of such content, making it difficult to track and remove.
To address this issue, we need to connect law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and tech companies to work together. This collaboration is crucial in creating a network of experts that can identify and remove such content from the internet. By combining resources and expertise, we can make it more difficult for perpetrators to distribute such content, and hold them accountable for their actions.
Moreover, a connected approach can also help in identifying victims of child sexual abuse and providing them with the support they need. The use of technology and AI can help in identifying patterns of abuse, and in turn, help in identifying potential victims. By working together, we can create a safer online space for children and young people.
In conclusion, a connected approach is essential in combatting child sexual abuse material on the internet. We need to work together to create a safer online space and protect the most vulnerable members of our society. It is our collective responsibility to take action and put an end to this heinous crime.
The Role of Companies in Combating Child Sexual Abuse Material
Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is a heinous crime that affects children all over the world. Companies have an important role to play in the fight against this crime, as they are often the platforms where this material is shared and distributed.
One of the ways companies can combat CSAM is through the use of technology. For example, companies can use machine learning algorithms to detect and remove CSAM from their platforms. They can also use encryption and other security measures to protect children’s data and prevent CSAM from being shared.
Another important aspect of the role of companies in combating CSAM is collaboration. Companies can work together with law enforcement agencies and NGOs to identify and report CSAM. They can also collaborate with other companies to share information and best practices.
It’s also important for companies to have clear policies and procedures in place to address CSAM. This includes having a dedicated team responsible for handling reports of CSAM, as well as implementing measures to prevent the sharing of CSAM on their platforms.
In summary, companies have a critical role to play in combating child sexual abuse material. By using technology, collaborating with other organizations, and implementing clear policies and procedures, companies can help protect children from this heinous crime.
The Urgent Need for a Global Effort to Combat Child Sexual Abuse Material on the Internet
Child sexual abuse material, also known as child pornography, is a growing problem on the internet. It is a form of sexual exploitation that harms children and can have lifelong effects on their well-being. The problem is not limited to one country or region, but it is a global issue that requires a global effort.
Law enforcement agencies and NGOs around the world are working to combat this problem. However, there is a need for a coordinated effort to make a real impact. Governments, law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and the private sector all have a role to play in this effort.
One of the challenges in combatting this problem is the lack of a unified approach. Different countries have different laws and regulations regarding the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. This makes it difficult to track down and prosecute offenders, as well as to ensure that victims receive the help and support they need.
Another challenge is the sheer volume of material. The internet makes it easier for offenders to distribute and access child sexual abuse material, which can be stored and shared on various platforms. In addition, many offenders use encryption and other technologies to conceal their activities.
To address these challenges, there is a need for a global effort that involves all stakeholders. This includes greater collaboration among law enforcement agencies and NGOs, as well as the private sector. The use of technology, such as AI and blockchain, can also help in identifying and tracking down offenders.
In conclusion, the problem of child sexual abuse material on the internet is a serious and urgent issue that requires a coordinated and global effort. We must work together to protect children and ensure that offenders are brought to justice.
The Importance of Investing in the Fight Against Child Sexual Abuse Material
The fight against child sexual abuse material is an urgent global concern that requires significant investment from governments, organizations, and individuals alike. As the prevalence of child sexual abuse material continues to grow, so does the need for increased funding to support the development of effective prevention, detection, and intervention strategies.
Investment is needed to fund the development and implementation of new technologies that can be used to combat child sexual abuse material, including artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. These technologies can help to identify and remove child sexual abuse material from the internet more efficiently, while also improving the accuracy of detection and reducing false positives.
In addition to technology, investment is also needed to support the work of law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and other organizations working to combat child sexual abuse material. These organizations need funding to hire and train staff, develop public awareness campaigns, and provide support to victims of child sexual abuse.
Investing in the fight against child sexual abuse material is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic investment in the safety and wellbeing of our communities. It is only through a sustained and coordinated effort that we can hope to make meaningful progress in the fight against this heinous crime.
Therefore, it is crucial for governments, private organizations, and individuals to prioritize the allocation of resources towards combatting child sexual abuse material. Only by doing so can we work towards a safer, more secure future for our children.
Conclusion
Child sexual abuse material is a heinous crime that has been exacerbated by the internet, making it easier for abusers to distribute and access such material. The fight against this crime requires a coordinated and global effort involving law enforcement, NGOs, technology companies, and governments. The use of technology such as AI and hash technology can aid in the identification and removal of child sexual abuse material, but it must be combined with human efforts to be effective.
Investment in the fight against child sexual abuse material is crucial. This includes not only investing in technology but also in the training and support of law enforcement and NGO personnel who deal with the issue on a daily basis. It also means increasing awareness of the issue and providing support to survivors.
As individuals, we can also play a role in the fight against child sexual abuse material by reporting any suspicious activity or material we come across online. By taking action, we can help protect vulnerable children and put an end to this heinous crime.
In conclusion, we must all work together to combat child sexual abuse material on the internet. It is a difficult and complex issue, but by working together and investing in the fight, we can make a difference and help protect the most vulnerable members of our society.
