From 3 April, the EU will become the only region worldwide without legal certainty allowing technology companies to detect child sexual abuse material online, prompting urgent warnings from child protection experts and global tech organisations. A coalition of 246 civil society groups and major industry players has condemned lawmakers for failing to extend the temporary legal framework that permitted privacy‑preserving detection tools, leaving companies unsure whether safeguarding systems remain lawful. With the EU already hosting the highest concentration of known child sexual abuse material - 62% of confirmed webpages in 2024 - experts warn the situation will worsen, reducing detections, hampering investigations, and emboldening offenders. As the EU’s proposed permanent legislation remains deadlocked, industry leaders and protection advocates stress that immediate action is essential to prevent increased harm to children across Europe and beyond.
The Morocco Reporting Portal launched on Safer Internet Day 2021 (9 February), celebrating the international efforts and best practice to make the internet safer for all, and especially for children.
WIRED on IWF's new IntelliGrade tool. There are 150 child sexual abuse laws around the world. Now, metadata is making it easier for countries to work together.
New data released by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) shows almost 20,000 webpages of child sexual abuse imagery in the first half of 2022 included ‘self-generated’ content of 7- to 10-year-old children.
The amount of AI-generated child sexual abuse content is “chilling” and reaching a “tipping point”, according to the Internet Watch Foundation.
In December, the IWF raised concerns that new rules under the e-Privacy Directive, which came into force on December 21, could make it illegal for tech companies to scan online messages for suspected child sexual abuse material.
‘Vital’ child protection work sees top honour for IWF’s Susie Hargreaves - The NSPCC has made Ms Hargreaves an honorary member of the NSPCC council
New Internet Watch Foundation data reveals a sharp rise in commercial child sexual abuse websites, with criminal gangs monetising children’s exploitation through subscription models and digital payments. The charity warns of systemic failures across online platforms, financial services and encrypted technologies that allow abuse to flourish. As reports of sexual extortion surge, particularly targeting boys, the IWF calls for stronger regulation of payment systems, encryption safeguards and decisive government action to disrupt the online economy of child sexual exploitation.
IWF analysts say ‘insidious’ commercial child sexual abuse sites are driving more and more extreme content online.
New IWF data shows that three in every five child sexual abuse reports are hosted in an EU member state.
Call for lawmakers to act quickly as new data shows child sexual abuse reports are soaring in wake of pandemic.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) warns of a "shocking" rise of primary school children being coerced into performing sexually online.