End-to-end encryption illustration showing mobile phones and locked messages

End-to-end Encryption and Keeping Your Child Safe Online

Standard encryption is widely used across the internet for all kinds of services, including banking apps, health records, and messaging services. It is used to keep private information private.

But end-to-end encryption goes even further, meaning even the service providers themselves can’t see what has been shared between two users.

It means that service providers who deploy end-to-end encryption on their platforms and messaging services are actively disabling their ability to detect child sexual abuse imagery. That is, unless they deploy additional safeguards.

Privacy and safety are not in any way incompatible and there are already examples of technologies that can be deployed to make sure known child sexual abuse materials cannot be shared in end-to-end encrypted environments. While a service provider may lose the ability to “see” what is passing through their systems – they can still intervene at the point someone uploads content.

Automated tools to detect known images and videos of children suffering sexual abuse are already being used in encrypted spaces (if not end-to-end encrypted spaces). It is done in a very focused, targeted way which does not compromise user privacy in any way.

What can I do to help keep my child safe online?

Online grooming or tactics used by child sexual abusers are not always easy to spot. It is important to talk to children about these behaviours and make sure they know they have a safe place to turn if they are concerned or find themselves exposed to grooming or sexual abuse. Without additional safeguards, most child sexual abuse content will go undetected. No one will be able to see those that seek to target, groom and sexually abuse children online.

Children may not know that they are being sexually abused and exploited as child sexual abusers use a range of abuse and manipulation techniques, such as posing as children online.

Whilst it is up to social media companies to ensure their online spaces are safe, there are some actions parents and carers can take to keep their children as safe as possible online.

The TALK acronym breaks these steps into four main areas:

  • Talk to your child about online sexual abuse. Start the conversation – and listen to their concerns.
  • Agree ground rules about the way you use technology as a family.
  • Learn about the platforms and apps your child loves. Take an interest in their online life.
  • Know how to use tools, apps and settings that can help to keep your child safe online.

The key is to start now: whether your child has been using the internet independently for a while, or they are about to get their first mobile phone, it is not too late to take these steps. 

Help us spread the word and close the door to online child sexual abusers. More info and resources available at talk.iwf.org.uk.

End-to-end Encryption: A guide for parents and carers

In conjunction with our partners at the Home Office, we've developed a resource for parents and carers offering advice and guidance on end-to-end encryption and keeping your child safe online. 

Also available in Welsh. 

Download in English
E2EE parents and carers guide PDF

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