Record number of UK under 18s facing ‘sextortion’ online as experts say no time to lose on nudity blockers for teens’ phones
Child protection groups brace for record numbers as half-year ‘sextortion’ reports have already eclipsed 2025 total.
Published: Mon 10 Feb 2020
New partnerships between businesses and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) will help protect children in “thousands of schools nationwide”.
Today (February 11), the Internet Watch Foundation celebrates Safer Internet Day by welcoming two new companies as members.
The partnerships will help the IWF in its mission to find and remove online child sexual abuse material.
AdEPT, which provides IT and security for schools, and virtual currency traders Coinbase, have announced they have joined the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) as members, in a move reinforcing their commitment to keeping users safe online.
As an IWF member, AdEPT will receive advice from IWF experts and will actively contribute to conversations with other members to identify how industry players can continuously innovate to further protect users.
Coinbase will take virtual currency alerts and the IWF keywords list.
Susie Hargreaves OBE, CEO of IWF, said: "The Internet has no borders, and that is why it is so important for us to work together with AdEPT and Coinbase to keep children all over the world safe and make sure there is nowhere child sexual abuse can be shared, and nowhere abusers can hide.
“We look forward to working with AdEPT and Coinbase, and welcome their help in working towards making the internet a safer place.”
AdEPT Managing Director David Bealing said: "At AdEPT Education we know that when it comes to the safeguarding of our children, there’s no room for compromise.
“Due to the ever-evolving dangers on the Internet, it’s imperative that safeguarding organisations recognise the importance of sharing best practice to keep ahead of the threat.
“To that end, I am delighted to announce AdEPT Education’s new partnership with the internationally renowned Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).
“The IWF works tirelessly to categorise and remove harmful content from the internet.
“Being an IWF member allows us to integrate IWF services that help improve internet safety and protect children into the technology services we provide to thousands of schools nationwide.”
To find out more about becoming a Member, and what the IWF can do for your business, visit https://www.iwf.org.uk/become-a-member
Child protection groups brace for record numbers as half-year ‘sextortion’ reports have already eclipsed 2025 total.
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.