IWF’s Dan Sexton explains vital role new European proposal could have in preventing the widespread sexual abuse, rape, and sexual torture of child victims online

Published:  Wed 1 Jun 2022

Dan explains the vital role the proposal could have in preventing the widespread sexual abuse, rape, and sexual torture of child victims online.

Last week, pan-European media network Euractiv released the latest episode of their podcast series, ‘The Tech Brief’. This latest episode, ‘CSAM proposal: children first, privacy second’ looks at the European Commission’s proposal to tackle child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online.

The plans would impose moderation practices on social media platforms, and require service providers like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to detect known and unknown images and videos of child sexual abuse content, and report this content to a new EU Centre dedicated to tackling child sexual exploitation and abuse.

While the proposal has been met with mass support from children’s rights activists, and documents a big step in the fight against child sexual abuse online, concerns have been raised at the prospect of the individual’s right to privacy being infringed upon, with claims the plans could be the beginning of an “indiscriminate and disproportionate intrusion into our lives”.

In this week’s podcast, host Mathieu Pollet, sets out to examine both sides of the debate surrounding the new proposal with his two guest speakers, Dan Sexton, Chief Technology Officer at The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), and Ella Jakubowska, Policy Advisor at European Digital Rights (EDRi).

Dan explains the vital role the proposal could have in preventing the widespread sexual abuse, rape, and sexual torture of child victims online, and the impact it could have on ensuring children are kept safe online.

Ella is critical of the proposal and highlights the critical importance of private, secure communications and the danger posed by ‘[undermining] encryption’ outlined in this new proposal.

You can listen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or Stitcher or find out more about the podcast on Euractiv’s website.

Government confirms child sexual abuse and exploitation within scope of VAWG strategy after child protection groups’ letter to Home Secretary

Government confirms child sexual abuse and exploitation within scope of VAWG strategy after child protection groups’ letter to Home Secretary

Government says it will take “concrete actions” to protect victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation .

3 October 2025 Blog
AI chatbots and child sexual abuse: a wake-up call for urgent safeguards

AI chatbots and child sexual abuse: a wake-up call for urgent safeguards

Our analysts uncovered criminal material on a platform hosting multiple chatbot “characters” designed to let users simulate sexual scenarios with child avatars.

22 September 2025 Blog
No Loopholes: New Development Shows the EU Must Close the AI Gap through the Recast CSA Directive

No Loopholes: New Development Shows the EU Must Close the AI Gap through the Recast CSA Directive

A disturbing new development highlights exactly why comprehensive legislation cannot wait.

22 September 2025 Blog