Denton Howard, CDir’s Post

Today is World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence (18th Nov), with the theme "Emerging technologies: threats and opportunities for the protection of children from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse." A few weeks ago, I was so lucky to attend ICMEC Australia's Safer AI for Children symposium - one message from the day that very much resonated with me was that while we must respond to the risks emerging technologies may pose, there are many positive ways technological advancements can contribute to the safety and protection of children and young people. A few years ago, Elspeth McInnes AM linked myself and Bravehearts in with Rachel Lev-Wiesel from the University of Haifa who was heading up some fascinating work using AI to detect indicators of child sexual abuse in children's self-portraits. Law enforcement could utilise an AI-based system (in combination with other specialised tools) to sort through and identify images and videos showing child sexual abuse, enabling faster evidence collection and victim identification. Technology may also assist through identifying grooming and online exploitation, detecting abuse in online communications/monitoring online chats, forensic analysis. It is easy to demonise technology and technology companies, but there is so much good work being done. Given the theme of this World Day, I think it is to acknowledge and celebrate the ethical use of technology and the amazing opportunities. #PreventionAndHealing #Technology #ChildProtection

Did you know that 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 worldwide has been the 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘅𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? Many children active in the digital world today are exposed to dangers we cannot fully grasp. 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗜 is increasing these threats by enabling ⚠️ the 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝘅𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 (𝗖𝗦𝗔𝗠) based on just two to three non-explicit images of a child, ⚠️ the 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘀 through the modification of existing CSAM, ⚠️ the generation of 𝗵𝗼𝘄-𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Learn more about the effects of generative AI on child sexual abuse in the latest #report from the Bracket Foundation, Value for Good GmbH, and UNICRI - United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, sponsored by Bracket Capital ➡️ https://bit.ly/4gywwEX #childsafety #childprotection #study #generativeAI

150 especially invited guests are gathered in Stockholm and even more are joining us online from around the globe - The Stella Polaris Summit is about to begin 🤩   We are looking forward to a day with expert speakers and panel discussions shining the light on key areas of how artificial intelligence (AI) are and can be used in preventing child sexual abuse. We will cover topics such as the business sector´s role in protecting children, collaboration in research, pioneering darknet projects and uncovering the link between cybersecurity and child sexual abuse.     Together we will accelerate the use of AI in combating child sexual abuse. Together we will give more children a safe childhood. #postkodeffekten

150 especially invited guests are gathered in Stockholm and even more are joining us online from around the globe - The Stella Polaris Summit is about to begin 🤩   We are looking forward to a day with expert speakers and panel discussions shining the light on key areas of how artificial intelligence (AI) are and can be used in preventing child sexual abuse. We will cover topics such as the business sector´s role in protecting children, collaboration in research, pioneering darknet projects and uncovering the link between cybersecurity and child sexual abuse.     Together we will accelerate the use of AI in combating child sexual abuse. Together we will give more children a safe childhood. #postkodeffekten

Virtual child sexual abuse material (VCSAM) also known as AI-driven CSAM or “deepfakes” is a growing problem. #AI can also be used to combat threats of #childexploitation https://lnkd.in/gpJFiRE3 #CSEA #artificialintelligence

This week Gavin Day and Dr. Julia Muraszkiewicz, showcased CESIUM, our groundbreaking child safeguarding AI solution, at the PIER24 annual conference. PIER24 is the Policing Institute for the Eastern Region’s annual conference. This year, the two-day event brought together a diverse group of experts from technology, policing, public protection, and academia to address the critical issue of safeguarding young people from online child sexual abuse (CSA). CESIUM, a result of our collaboration with Lincolnshire Police, has changed the force's approach to data collation, sharing, and analysis. By reducing pre-screening time by an impressive 80% and allowing for a 34% early referral rate, CESIUM has proven its ability to identify children who might otherwise be lost in the vast amounts of data. As Gavin Day aptly stated, "We need to embrace the technology we have available, and CESIUM gives us the proactive capability we need to identify, understand, and deal with the exploitation of children." Learn more about the event here: https://lnkd.in/dNyxGGcE #ChildSafeguarding #CESIUM #EthicalAI #PIER24 #InnovationForGood

United Nations Call for input: Existing and Emerging Sexually Exploitative Practices against Children in the Digital Environment There is an urgent need for States and all stakeholders to scale up efforts and strengthen collaboration through a core global alliance and multilateral instrument dedicated exclusively to eradicating child sexual abuse and exploitation online, addressing the complexity of these phenomena and taking a step forward to protecting children in the digital space and in the field of Artificial Intelligence. The Special Rapporteur invites comments and views on how all stakeholders including the technology industry can be mobilised to factor in the best interest of the child in the design of technologies. The Special Rapporteur invites all interested parties including States, international and regional organizations, UN agencies, national human rights institutions, law enforcement, civil society and hotline organizations, academics, lawyers, policy experts, child protection officers, educators, communities and children and other relevant stakeholders to share information, documents, statements, analysis and input for this thematic report. For the purpose of the report, she aims to explore the existing and emerging sexually exploitative practices and abuse against children in the digital environment, as well as the role Artificial Intelligence plays in facilitating the sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children and how states and other child protection stakeholders can respond to this problem. Mama Fatima Singhateh See more here 👇🏻

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has reported a disturbing rise in AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery, describing it as reaching a “tipping point.” Over the past six months, the amount of illegal content created using AI has surpassed that of the previous year, and almost all of it is being shared openly on the web. Many of these images are horrifyingly realistic, created by AI systems trained on real victims, blurring the lines between fiction and real-life harm. At Quetzal, we know too well the long-lasting effects of childhood sexual abuse, and this new form of exploitation is devastating. 💡What You Can Do: 💙 Stay Informed: Understand how AI technology is being misused to harm children and spread awareness. Read the full article on https://lnkd.in/gtcK23mX (theguardian.org) 💙 Support Survivors: At Quetzal, we provide free counselling to female survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Together, we can help survivors heal and protect future generations from exploitation. If you see something harmful, report it to the IWF. 💙 Advocate for Change: Encourage conversations about digital safety and demand that the tech industry takes stronger action. Every voice matters in the fight to protect vulnerable children and stop the spread of this harmful content. #Quetzal #ProtectChildren #QuetzalSupport #EndChildAbuse #SupportSurvivors #AIExploitationAwareness #IWFReport #DigitalSafety

Read this report! 💡 We echo Nina Vaaranen-Valkonen sentiment that the accessibility of child sexual abuse material on mainstream platforms is a wake-up call for urgent action. The tech industry must step up its efforts to strengthen child safety online and advance perpetrator prevention efforts. It's crucial to recognize that this crisis transcends mere technological concerns; it's a pressing mental health emergency. There is a need for legislative action to curb the spread of child sexual abuse materials online and it includes that there is a comprehensive and accessible mental health support system in place for those impacted. The Inner Foundation supports World Childhood Foundation USA and are guided by our commitment to empowering mental health support for youth. Read the report here ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/demCvKq8 World Childhood Foundation, Paula Guillet de Monthoux, Suojellaan Lapsia, Skydda Barn

The rise of AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is a growing, deeply concerning issue that requires our immediate attention and action. Hotline.ie recently reported a 110% increase in CSAM reports in 2023 compared to the previous year. This alarming trend highlights how new technologies, such as AI, are increasingly being exploited by criminals to facilitate grooming and target vulnerable children online. Mick Moran, CEO of Hotline.ie, urges a collective societal response: tech companies, parents, governments, and communities all play a crucial role in protecting children in the digital space. Prioritizing safety over profit, enhancing internet regulations, and fostering international cooperation are essential steps toward a safer online environment for children. We must not turn a blind eye to this emerging threat. At Compassion International, we believe in the collective responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us. Let's be vigilant, let's act, and let's demand better. #ChildProtection #EndCSAM #AIandSafety #OnlineSafety #CompassionTogether #CompassionInternational