IWF CEO Kerry Smith calls for complete EU ban of AI abuse content at high-level meeting of global experts in Rome
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.
New report identifies honest communication as pivotal in battle to stop ‘self-generated’ child sexual abuse material.
New pilot shows way for smaller platforms to play big part in online safety.
Speaking in the Lords, several Peers highlight the crucial work of the IWF and call for action from the Government to provide age-appropriate online safety advice.
IWF backs government move requiring tech companies to urgently implement nudity detection and blocking on children’s devices.
IWF Technical Projects Officer, Harriet Lester, discusses working on the IWF Hash List and how the new technology will, she believes, have a significant impact on fighting online child sexual abuse images.
Today (18 November 2013) the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) attended a summit hosted by the Prime Minister to discuss the fight against online child sexual abuse content.
The US now hosts more child sexual abuse material online than any other country
Online child sexual abuse is at record high levels, according to exclusive figures given to ITV News.
A record number of reports of online child sexual abuse have been processed by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).