One of the largest telecoms providers in Cambodia is now a partner in the Internet Watch Foundation’s (IWF) mission to defend children online and remove child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from the internet.
Smart Axiata has signed up to use the IWF’s URL and Non-Photographic Imagery (NPI) URL Lists to protect more than 7.5million of its subscribers from exposure to this horrific material.
The partnership also gives Smart access to research, intelligence and expertise to help aid in the battle to stop the sharing and viewing of child sexual abuse images and videos.
The collaboration comes at a time when the scale of child sexual abuse content online continues to grow at an alarming rate. In 2024, IWF analysts removed 291,270 webpages, a five per cent increase on the 275,650 webpages identified in 2023.
By integrating the IWF’s dynamic URL and NPI URL Lists containing confirmed child sexual abuse material into its security processes, Smart can ensure that the criminal imagery cannot be viewed or shared while the IWF takes steps to have the content removed from the internet.
These lists are updated daily by IWF analysts, who work tirelessly to identify and remove webpages confirmed to contain images and videos of child sexual abuse, including CGI, drawings and other non-photographic representations.
Ziad Shatara, CEO of Smart Axiata, highlighted the company’s priority in contributing to building a safer online space for all. “At Smart, we believe that building a connected society also means building a safe one. As children are increasingly going online at a young age – for learning, socialising, and entertainment – they become more vulnerable to online harm.
“Our partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation is a critical step toward ensuring that the digital world is safer for everyone, especially children. This collaboration reinforces our long-standing commitment to responsible connectivity and strengthens our broader efforts to create a secure, inclusive, and trusted digital future for Cambodia.”
Derek Ray-Hill, Interim CEO of the IWF, said: “The proliferation of horrific child sexual abuse images and videos online is a global problem which requires a strong international response.
“Our partnership with Smart is a prime example of how organisations from around the world can work together to make the internet a safer place for all.
“By showing a commitment to online safety and using our data and expertise, Smart can protect millions of their customers, the online community and children from viewing this distressing content and prevent the further repeated victimisation of victims and survivors.”
Find out more about becoming a Member and the services the IWF can provide here.
