Every second, at least 2 images or videos of child sexual abuse are shared online.
That’s why the #ChildSafetyON, supported by the ECLAG coalition, calls for laws and policies to protect our children online!
We cannot wait any longer! EU policymakers must act decisively to end online child sexual abuse once and for all.
Together, we can shape a better world for our children online!
Online service providers, such as social media platforms, must include prevention measures on their platforms. They must use the specific technologies that are built for the targeted detection and removal of child sexual abuse content from the Internet, while respecting privacy of all users, including children.
Victims of online child sexual abuse not only suffer ‘hands-on’ abuse but continue to suffer each time CSAM is distributed or viewed. If no action is taken to remove these images and videos, there is no closure for victims who have to live with the trauma of having the worst moments of their lives continuously circulating on the internet and the fear of being recognised from the material recirculating online.
Join the movement and take action today!
Child Safety Online is possible!
OUR KEY ASKS
- We call for Child safety by design, to ensure that platforms design their services with the rights and needs of children at the forefront. The EU should require/mandate designs that ensure privacy settings by default for child users, effective age verification, child-friendly reporting mechanisms and features that make it harder for offenders to reach hundreds of child users at the same time.
- We call on the EU to require online service providers to prevent, detect, report, and remove child sexual abuse online. We protect our children offline by designing safe spaces and holding offenders accountable, so why aren’t we doing the same online? Over 200 companies are already voluntarily using advanced and targeted technologies to safely detect, report and eliminate child sexual abuse online. However, the vast majority of tech companies are not using these technologies, which is why we call for a law that imposes obligations on all online platforms.
- We call for the implementation of strong safeguards to avoid any misuse of any detection technology, and to ensure the privacy of adult and child users is respected. Children’s right to be safe online and users’ privacy go hand in hand. Technology can be designed to ensure both privacy and child protection with a high level of accuracy.
- We want the EU to listen to children’s views and experiences on online safety and to hear the voices of survivors, who can share their expertise on prevention, healing and justice processes and give recommendations on the safe technologies to use.
No one solution will solve this complex issue. Other preventative measures are vital to end child sexual abuse! We support:
1
Awareness-raising activities to support and provide parents and children with the right knowledge to be aware and recognise the online risks and what to do when encountering it.
2
Education for children, parents and relevant caregivers such as teachers on online safety.
3
Peer-to-peer support groups for children to reach out to safe and supporting groups on how to handle a potential risk online.
4
Any other evidence-based prevention measures.
Preventative measures should not exclude children from online spaces!
Children have the right to benefit from the Internet in a safe manner. They must be empowered as digital citizens. When these measures don’t work, online service providers must use the technologies available to detect, report, and remove any form of child sexual abuse online, including grooming.
We look forward to working with all interested parties, to share our expertise, and create a safe world for children online. A coordinated response against online threats to children is the only way to turn the tide on child sexual exploitation and abuse online.
