Published: Thu 8 Jun 2023
The Internet Watch Foundation scooped a top prize at the 2023 National Technology Awards.
Organised by National Technology News, the event celebrated pioneers of technology and excellence across a range of industries.
The IWF was recognised for its use of cutting-edge tech tools designed to make it easier to identify and remove online images and videos of child sexual abuse.
The judging panel recognised the organisation’s important work to protect children in the UK.
IWF Head of Marketing, Thomas Dyson, and Development Manager, Neil Prowse, accepted the Tech for Good award at a gala dinner in London.
Other winners at the event included Vodafone & MMT, BT and True Fit.
Dan Sexton, Chief Technology Officer at the IWF said: “We are delighted to be recognised for the tech tools we have developed to enable our expert human analysts to find and assess more child sexual abuse material with greater accuracy.
“Because of an ever-evolving technology landscape, our tech team are constantly seeking new and innovative ways to effectively detect and disrupt the distribution and access of this content.
“Furthermore, the valuable high-quality data we generate for services used by IWF Members and law enforcement, like our hash and URL lists, is a pivotal part of making the internet safer for all users."
Previous winners in the Tech For Good category have included Healx, an AI powered drugs discovery company, and Vodafone.
Stand-up comedian Suzi Ruffell hosted the event.
New data shows a concerning rise in the number of AI-generated child sexual abuse images identified in the first half of this year, with girls featuring most often.
As EU negotiations on the Child Sexual Abuse Regulation resume in Brussels, the Internet Watch Foundation places a choice before the public and policymakers – to either push for legislation that protects children online or make it easier for child sexual abuse content to spread.
