More than 200 participants from the Insafe and INHOPE networks came together in Warsaw for the Insafe/ INHOPE Joint Training Meeting (JTM) on April 17 and 18.

The goal of the meeting was to share experiences and best practices across the networks and explore areas of common ground and opportunities for close cooperation between hotlines, helplines and awareness centres. Given the recent developments and updates in legislation governing online child sexual abuse in the EU, a big focus of the meeting was to inform the network on arising online child protection issues and prepare for future challenges. The two days covered a range of online safety topics including sextortion, AI-generated content, and adult content.

Youth Produced Sexual Imagery

The keynote speech was delivered by the Dutch hotline Offlimits and addressed youth produced sexual imagery and child sexual abuse material (CSAM). From the the perspectives of helpline and hotline, they highlighted the increasing cases of sharing self-generated material and the sextortion of minors reported to the Dutch Safer Internet Centre (SIC). The session also delved into the vital role of hotline and helpline data in informing prevention measures and providing support, showcasing successful practices in the Netherlands.

The Numbers, Market & Impact of AI-Generated Content

The emergence of generative AI has introduced new risks for online safety, and complicated the potential scope of digital violence among youth online. A study conducted by the Belgian Safer Internet Centre, Child Focus, highlighted the troubling rise of deep nudes— a form of AI-generated sexual abuse material. Deep nudes are highly realistic but entirely synthetic intimate images or videos created by artificial intelligence. Child Focus shared concerning data on the prevalence of deep nudes in Belgium. 41.9% of respondents aged 15 to 25 reported to be aware of deep nudes, 23.1% have seen these type of images, and 7.8% admitted to be in possessing of deep nudes at the time of the survey, underscoring the urgent need to address this growing threat.

Financial Sextortion & Sextortion

In this in-depth breakout session, ECPAT Sweden examined the differences between sextortion and financial sextortion against the background of a rising trend of financial sextortion against teenage boys. Key takeaways included:

• Data shows that sextortion victims are mostly female, but the specifics of the crime vary widely. Financial sextortion mainly affects boys aged 14 to 17.
• Sextortion victims are usually hesitant to share images and are coerced through grooming. In financial sextortion, perpetrators target victims who are less reluctant.
• In sextortion cases, the risk of material dissemination is higher if the victim knows the perpetrator. Financial sextortion generally carries a higher risk of material dissemination.

Tackling financial sextortion effectively requires a combination of preventative and reactive measures. Close cooperation between hotlines and helplines can aid in the rapid removal of content and prevent dissemination. A speaker from Webwise outlined a europewise campaign launched by Europol about sextortion, with the goal of tackling concerning rise of sextortion cases recorded by law enforcement. The campaign includes a Talk delivered by the Garda Schools Program, as well as resources for teachers. Three separate lessons address topics like online coercion, how it can impact young people who've experienced it, and how technology is used to manipulate young people into sexual behaviour.

An Update on the Digital Services Act

Speakers from the European Commission, the Czech Telecommunication Office, and from Ireland's Media Commission (Coimisiún na Meán) each outlined their respective experiences under the DSA, highlighting changes in digital platforms' safety measures, preparation for Digital Service Coordinator (DSC) designation, and efforts to establish an online safety framework. The panel discussion answered questions about the role of SICs in the DSA ecosystem, underlining their central role in implementation. The SICs hands-on experience in dealing with harmful content, as well as their established relationships with online platforms was emphasised as a critical asset for the DSC. The panel also stressed the crucial role of Trusted Flaggers and DSCs in creating solid ecosystems on a national level.

Dealing with Adult Content Online

Stakeholders across advocacy, non-profit, and the adult content industry shared their perspectives and strategies for addressing youth exposure to adult content online. Klicksafe emphasised prevention through awareness and education, presenting effective teaching materials for young people on the topic of adult content. Their resources include important tips on using apps and an information sheet for parents titled "How Do I Talk to My Kids About Pornographic Materials Online?"

Offering the perspective of the adult content industry, Aylo outlined their trust and safety approach, which incorporates fingerprinting, text moderation, and deterrence. They also proposed an age verification solution that would place the responsibility on major operating systems. Webgroup highlighted that effective age verification requires compliance from the adult industry, which can only be achieved with practical and enforceable regulations. Finally, an attorney advocating for tech companies stressed the importance of cultural solutions to issues related to adult content online. Emphasising that, in addition to legal and technical measures, society must engage in open discussions about sexuality to create a safer online environment.

How We Can Better Support Hotline's Advocacy

This hotline-specific session focused on how INHOPE can better support member hotlines in their advocacy work. Participants were encouraged to share their experiences on past positive outcomes in advocacy, like successes in adapting official legislation terminology, pushing for more stringent definitions of CSAM in the national criminal code and advocating for wider mandate the respective hotline. Many shared how their organisation supports advocacy with a dedicated team or policy officer, and discussed national conversations on legislative changes to align with the Recast of the CSAM Directive.

2024 and Beyond

The Joint Training Meeting concluded with a panel session featuring experts from the European Commission, THORN, and the University of Adam Mickiewicz. They addressed forthcoming challenges in online safety for children and young people, with responses provided by Safer Internet Centres, including the Latvian Internet Association, the Centre for Digital Youth Care, and NASK .


It was fantastic to see so many members from the Insafe-INHOPE networks coming together and sharing their expertise during the JTM. This highlights the significance of collaborative efforts and acknowledges the wealth of knowledge, resources, and expertise available in this global network. This is particularly crucial given the rapid advancements in technology, aiming to foster a more comprehensive legislative framework within the EU.

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