Petition: make it easier for child sexual abuse to spread online

Automated detection uses specific methods to identify indicators of child sexual abuse, whether that is known child sexual abuse material, likely new child sexual abuse material or patterns associated with grooming. Detection would only be authorised where there is a significant risk of abuse, with independent authorisation and strict requirements for accuracy, privacy and security.

This law does not require any service to harm or break encryption. There are different technical approaches to detecting abuse, including methods that work before content is encrypted. Strong encryption and child safety can work together. Privacy-preserving approaches can stop child sexual abuse material from ever being sent, shared, viewed, or bought. The point is to ensure that services can address child sexual abuse while maintaining strong security and privacy protections.

No detection technology is perfect, which is why a flag to a system is not the same as a finding of abuse. Known child sexual abuse material can be identified by matching digital finger prints against verified material. Detecting previously unidentified child sexual abuse material and grooming requires different technologies that are trained to distinguish harmful material or behaviour from legitimate content. Where something is flagged, it then goes through human review before being confirmed and acted on. The proposed framework would also set requirements for accuracy and thresholds to reduce the risk of false positives.

These technologies are already used across the platforms we all use every day. Any technology capable of detecting harmful content needs oversight on how it can be used. That is why safeguards should cover not only the technology itself, but also the databases and processes around it. A robust framework will require clear purpose limitation, security, auditability, transparency and independent oversight.

It never was. Children have rights, and so does everyone else who uses the internet. A serious child-safety framework will protect both. That means looking for measures that reduce the risk of sexual exploitation while minimising unnecessary intrusion into people’s lives. Privacy, proportionality, safeguards and independent oversight are not obstacles to protecting children. They are what make child-safety measures responsible, lawful and sustainable.