The creation and spread of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) is a problem which knows no national or sector-specific boundaries. That’s why INHOPE believes in the need for international and multi-stakeholder collaboration and why, in this five-part mini-series, we’re asking you to get involved in the conversation. Each week, we’ll be presenting some of the most pressing challenges we’re facing in the fight against CSAM so get in touch and help us get closer to our goal of an internet free of CSAM.

For the last twenty years, more and more societal activities are taking place online. Sped up by COVID-19, we kick off this series by asking how crime fighting is changing in the 21st Century.

How has your sector changed, and do you feel equipped to tackle the new challenges arising as a result of more time spent online?

For those working in online child protection, some believe the reality is that those companies in control of the infrastructure and platforms of the internet are the only ones who can be effective against CSAM. 

Do you think there should be enforced self-regulation on technology platforms?

For one attendee of the INHOPE Summit, the solution lies not in regulation but in collaboration. Many companies are already working to develop tools to detect illegal content on their platforms. By making these tools freely available, other technology platforms could also keep their platforms safe and prevent the spread of CSAM.

With this in mind, do you agree that political will is not the problem or should technology companies be doing more to support this fight?

Get in touch at communications@inhope.org and become a part of the collaboration between industry, hotlines, and law enforcement fighting CSAM.

Next week, we take a closer look at the AI tools being developed by technology companies.

*Source: INHOPE Summit, Breakout Room Four