The second annual INHOPE Summit brought together representatives from the technology sector, the US Department of Justice, child advocates from both sides of the Atlantic, and law enforcement, to highlight the critical work that the INHOPE network of hotlines does every day.

Trends were shared and open discussions were undertaken to create a transparent and collaborative pathway to find solutions on how industry and all stakeholders can do better to prevent revictimisation.

The message shared was that there is a sense of urgency to collaborate on tech innovation and strategic planning, a need for all citizens and companies to understand that they can make a difference and that this is specific societal challenge we see around the world. Stakeholders agreed that there was an urgency concerning online CSAM and that is it an epidemic, that the bar needs to be raised and that we can put a stop to this but to do so we all need to work together.

The morning of the summit featured presentations and panel discussions on: How the INHOPE network of hotlines supports all the Emmas that are being abused or have been abused and rescued every day; Reporting and assessment - what steps are taken by the INHOPE network of hotlines delivered by Michelle DeLaune, COO, NCMEC; The role that INHOPE and ICCAM play in preventing the revictimisation of Emma; How does the Crisp external, extended intelligence approach help prevent the revictimisation of Emma?; Rescuing Emma through collaboration: INTERPOL, ICCAM, ICSE database and Police2Peer; INHOPE’s impact and INHOPE’s impact in police efforts to expediate the rescue of Emma (AviaTor).

In the afternoon we heard about trends and prevention and why therefore hotlines are critical. Joanna Rubinstein, CEO of World Childhood Foundation USA delivered the ‘Out of the Shadows’ report, an Index on child sexual abuse providing insights into how the Index will elevate the INHOPE network of hotlines’ work to remove online CSAM.

We heard from the US Department of Justice on how the USA is fighting for Emma and other victims of child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse, why hotlines matter and what the future holds with technology like VR Heptics and AI and what this means for the challenge that we already face.