Internet Watch Foundation seeks ‘resilient’ candidates for unique leadership role

A new leadership role at the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) will be ‘pivotal’ in helping to stop the spread of online child sexual abuse images and videos and ‘create a safer internet for children’.

The child protection charity is actively recruiting for a Head of Hotline to lead an expert team that works to find, assess and remove online child sexual abuse imagery from the internet.

Through the efforts of the Hotline, the IWF identified record levels of child sexual abuse webpages online in 2024, more than ever before in its 29-year history.

In its recent Annual Data and Insights Report, the charity also revealed a spike in AI-generated child sexual abuse reports. The IWF was among the first to raise the alarm over how realistic AI-generated images of child sexual abuse have become and the threat that misuse of the technology poses to both existing victims of child sexual abuse and to potential new victims.

By helping to tackle these online threats to children, the Head of Hotline role at IWF is described as one that will ‘drive real-world impact’ and be at the forefront of online child protection.

Chris Hughes, IWF Hotline Director, said: “I always say that we’re a group of ordinary people doing an extraordinary job. Our Hotline team does heroic work, tirelessly removing sexual abuse images and videos online that repeatedly victimise children every day.

“The IWF is a unique environment, staffed by a dedicated and diverse team of analysts and image content assessors that I have the honour to lead as Hotline Director. They do one of the most difficult yet rewarding jobs in the world, leading the global fight against online child sexual abuse.

“The new Head of Hotline will lead our front line team and we’re looking for someone with compassion, resilience and the strategic capability to lead in one of the most challenging and meaningful spaces in the digital world.”

In 2024, the IWF confirmed more than 290,000 reports of child sexual abuse imagery. In 245 instances, the webpages contained AI-generated child sexual abuse content, an increase of 380 per cent on the 51 seen in 2023. The AI reports equated to 7,644 images and a small number of videos, reflecting the fact that one webpage can contain multiple examples of illegal material.

Most of these images (39%) were assessed by IWF analysts as Category A, depicting the most severe type of sexual abuse.

The Hotline continues to monitor the misuse of AI and other concerning trends and the Head of Hotline will work closely with global tech companies, governments and law enforcement to share data and expertise to drive change online and prevent the abuse and exploitation of children.

A former Chief Constable and National Police Chiefs' Council lead for child protection has emphasised the opportunity for impact that the Head of Hotline role holds.

Simon Bailey CBE, Chair of the International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute at Anglia Ruskin University, said: “The Internet Watch Foundation carries out uniquely vital work in the global effort to combat child sexual abuse material online.

“Having witnessed the devastating impact of such crimes firsthand during my time as the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for child protection, I know how central the IWF is to the practical, day-to-day fight to remove this horrific material and safeguard children.

“The Head of Hotline role at the IWF is an amazing opportunity for a dedicated individual to make a profound difference. It demands resilience and leadership, qualities often honed through experience in fields such as law enforcement. This position offers a chance to lead a critical team at the forefront of protecting the most vulnerable in our society. It's a challenging yet immensely rewarding role, pivotal to an organisation that is indispensable in creating a safer internet for children.”

More information on the role can be found at iwf.org.uk/headofhotline