UK leads the world in fight against online child abuse images
New figures from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) 2005 Annual Report launched today reveal that just 0.4 per cent of child abuse images on the internet are hosted in the UK, down from 18 per cent in 1997.
Peter Robbins, Chief Executive, IWF, said: “UK internet users deserve to know that the UK has an excellent track record of successfully combating online child abuse images.”
During 2005 the IWF processed around 24,000 reports from the public, more than ever, and reported a record 6,000 cases to the authorities of child abuse images hosted abroad. Now in its tenth year, the IWF is working increasingly with partner organisations overseas to share its dynamic approach and best practice.
The IWF is the only authorised organisation in the UK operating an internet ‘hotline’ for the public and IT professionals to report their exposure to potentially illegal child abuse images hosted on the internet anywhere in the world and criminally obscene and racist content hosted in the UK.
One of the main services the IWF provides is a universal notice and takedown service of illegal content within its remit to all service providers in the UK. It also provides a comprehensive list of Child Abuse Image (CAI) URL’s for organisations such as ISPs, mobile network operators and search engines to block access to potentially illegal child abuse images.
Key Figures from 2005:
- 23,658 reports from the public processed by IWF
- 6,128 reports made to law enforcement agencies
- Only 0.4% of potentially illegal child abuse content hosted in the UK
- 0% of criminally obscene content hosted in the UK
- 0% of criminally racist content hosted in the UK
- 40% of child abuse content traced to the US
- 28% of child abuse content traced to Russia
- 17% of child abuse content traced to Asian countries
- 13% of child abuse content traced to Europe
- 156 intelligence reports relating to UK offenders were passed to police
- 211 newsgroups are now listed as potentially illegal in the UK
- 226 notices were issued to internet service providers to take down a further 12,777 images that were published in newsgroups
- 47% of child abuse websites were commercial Pay-Per-View
- 70% of Pay-Per-View websites are hosted in Russia or the US
- Every report to IWF hotline processed within 24 hours
Peter Robbins, Chief Executive, continued, “On those rare occasions when potentially illegal online content is hosted in the UK, the content service provider is swift to have the content ‘taken down’ and the police are quick to have the publisher investigated. This outstanding situation has not happened by chance. It is entirely due to the determination of all our stakeholders to confront the issue and adopt policies and practices to make the UK a hostile place for those seeking to distribute or view such images.”
“This is a crime without boundaries and it is a testament to our partnership with hotlines around the world that we see a continued and united battle against this online activity which proliferates the abuse of children across the world.”
The increase in public reports can be attributed to a number of factors, including: public intolerance of child abuse content online combined with increased awareness of the IWF’s role in combating it; the IWF hotline team developing specialist skills to tackle new ways of distributing child abuse images in many formats and guises; and being better equipped to develop intelligence gained from reports.
Rt. Hon Alun Michael MP, Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, DTI, said: “The UK’s ground-breaking alliance between the IWF, the police and industry has achieved more in a year without legislation than we could have achieved in five years through legislation alone”.
Amanda Jordan OBE, Chair, IWF, said: “The public can feel confident in the IWF’s hard work over the last ten years combating these shocking crimes. The UK remains a very hostile place for those who engage in illegal activities online to the detriment of the majority.”
These images represent real children being abused. If anyone is inadvertently exposed to material like this, they should file a report online at www.iwf.org.uk. Reporting is simple and can be done anonymously.
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About the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
The IWF works in partnership with UK Government Departments such as the Home Office and the Department of Trade and Industry to influence initiatives and programmes developed to combat online abuse. This dialogue goes beyond the UK and Europe, to ensure greater awareness of global issues and responsibilities.
The IWF is funded by the EU and the UK internet industry including Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Mobile Operators and manufacturers, Content Service Providers (CSPs) and telecommunications & software companies.
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For an online version of the 2005 Annual Report, click here.
For a hard copy, email media@iwf.org.uk.
For further information or interviews, please contact:
Sarah Robertson – IWF Communications
t: +44 (0) 1223 237 700, e: sarah@iwf.org.uk
Created: Mon, March 6th, 2006 | Last Modified: Mon, June 19th, 2006
