News | Internet Watch Foundation

As a precaution against the COVID-19 coronavirus, the Internet Watch Foundation will be operating at a reduced capacity. We provide a vital service for the public and are committed to staying open but there is likely to be a delay responding to reports, emails and calls. People can still report child sexual abuse imagery as normal here.

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“It is important that we not only look at the online element of these crimes but the impact that it also has on communities".

The IWF welcomes new Government strategy to tackle child sexual abuse

Fri 22 Jan 2021

“It is important that we not only look at the online element of these crimes but the impact that it also has on communities".

A record number of reports of online child sexual abuse have been processed by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).

‘Grave threat’ to children from predatory internet groomers as online child sexual abuse material soars to record levels

Tue 12 Jan 2021

A record number of reports of online child sexual abuse have been processed by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).

“Firms must do all they can to keep users, particularly children, safe and to stop any illegal content from spreading on their platforms but the legislation must support them in doing that"

New Online Harms measures welcomed as IWF insists children's welfare must always come first

Tue 15 Dec 2020

“Firms must do all they can to keep users, particularly children, safe and to stop any illegal content from spreading on their platforms but the legislation must support them in doing that"

“We can not allow Europe to be a safe haven for these criminals who would exploit the worst abuse of vulnerable, innocent children. We are pleased to see some action is being taken"

'Eyes of the world very much on Europe' as IWF welcomes progress on child safety measures in Brussels

Tue 8 Dec 2020

“We can not allow Europe to be a safe haven for these criminals who would exploit the worst abuse of vulnerable, innocent children. We are pleased to see some action is being taken"

Lib Dem peer and IWF Champion Baroness Benjamin said lockdown has created a “perfect storm” for online child sexual abuse

Praise for IWF Hotline as Government looks to tackle internet grooming

Wed 2 Dec 2020

Minister praises work to find and remove images and videos of child sexual abuse from the internet, and says new legislation will aim to tackle the issue.

An IWF analyst’s instincts told him he could act quickly to intervene after he received an anonymous tip off.

Analyst's ‘hunch’ leads to British schoolgirl’s rescue from online child sexual abuse

Mon 9 Nov 2020

An IWF analyst’s instincts told him he could act quickly to intervene after he received an anonymous tip off.

IWF analysts have seen accelerating numbers of public reports of child sexual abuse, with more people staying and working from home among contributing factors.

IWF has record month as public reports of child sexual abuse surge

Fri 30 Oct 2020

IWF analysts have seen accelerating numbers of public reports of child sexual abuse, with more people staying and working from home among contributing factors.

The aim is for our chatbot to 'target' users before they actually commit a criminal offence.

'Game-changing’ chatbot to target people trying to access child sexual abuse online

Wed 14 Oct 2020

The aim is for the new chatbot to 'target' users before they actually commit a criminal offence.

Chris Hughes, who has worked at the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) for nearly nine years, oversees the IWF’s hotline and leads a team of analysts whose job is to assess images and videos of suspected child sexual abuse to help get them removed from the internet.

IWF Hotline Manager wins Unsung Hero Award for 'profound' contribution to keeping the internet safe

Mon 12 Oct 2020

Chris Hughes, who has worked at the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) for nearly nine years, oversees the IWF’s hotline and leads a team of analysts whose job is to assess images and videos of suspected child sexual abuse to help get them removed from the internet.