A new partnership between the IWF and cybersecurity giant Avast will help tackle “extremely challenging” issue of online child sexual abuse material

Avast will work with IWF to filter out webpages identified as hosting child abuse imagery, helping to crack down on the creation and sharing of such content and ensuring unsuspecting internet users are not inadvertently exposed to the disturbing content.

Susie Hargreaves, Chief Executive of the Internet Watch Foundation, said: “We are very excited to be teaming up with Avast.

“As a charity, we use the best technology to fight against the spread of online child sexual abuse material.

“Working with Avast, with their huge experience in the field, will boost this mission and have a very real impact on the safety of children around the world.”

Jaya Baloo, Chief Information Security Officer at Avast said, “The IWF has an extremely challenging job in tackling this horrific problem which has become more prevalent as technology and the internet has evolved. Our purpose is to make the online world a safer place and as part of this commitment, we are partnering with organisations who share our goals, by providing technical support and skilled resource.

“We hope that working with IWF to block the sharing of this content online, we can also help prevent the re-victimisation of the children featured, and even aiding, if at all possible, the rescue of some of these children.

“Any role we can play to reduce the abuse of children must be right and we will not compromise in our mission to stop online harm.”

The IWF is part of the UK Safer Internet Centre, working with Childnet International and the South West Grid for Learning to promote the safe and responsible use of technology.

The IWF works globally to stop child sexual abuse imagery on the internet. If you ever stumble across a sexual image or video of someone you think is under 18, please report to the IWF.

Reporting can be done anonymously and confidentially – we don’t need your details, just your help.