Advocacy
Call for Tech that Protects Children
Stop livestreamed child abuse before it starts
Call for Tech That Protects
The UK is among the top three largest global consumers of livestreamed child sexual abuse (UK National Crime Agency). Sex offenders in the UK are fuelling demand for livestreamed child abuse, which is now the main form of commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Livestreamed sexual abuse is now the main form of commercial sexual exploitation of children (Europol). Men who abuse children online are more likely to go on to abuse children in person (Childlight).
Livestreamed abuse sees offenders in places like the UK pay to watch and direct the sexual abuse of children over live video calls, with the abuse frequently taking place in countries like the Philippines. Children urgently need protection from this abuse.
New AI-driven, on-device detection technology could disrupt livestreamed abuse, preventing offenders from livestreaming child abuse in the first place, and making children everywhere safer.
Featured Story
Meet Joy, a survivor of online sexual exploitation.
Joy* was just 10 when her aunt started abusing her and sharing that abuse online. But her story does not end there. Together with Philippine authorities, IJM helped bring Joy and 12 other children to safety. Two years later, in the face of grave intimidation, Joy was the first survivor from her case to bravely testify against her aunt in court. Today, Joy is a licensed social worker and active member of the Philippines Survivor Network, advocating for the transformation of the public justice system to protect children from online sexual abuse.
Joy shares, “I think it’s important that I and other survivors advocate because we have our experience, and our experience is not always heard. We advocate so that people will understand the pain we went through."
Many of the children are extremely young: 40% of those brought to safety by IJM and local police in the Philippines are under 12 — some just babies and toddlers. The harm caused to children whose sexual abuse is directed and watched live by offenders is unimaginable. Join Joy and call on the UK Government to legislate for tech that protects children, stopping the abuse before it starts.
Last year, the UK Government pledged to tackle online sexual exploitation and abuse of children, with a focus on implementing robust legislation, and leveraging AI technology to detect and prevent online child sexual abuse.
It has never been more important to remind our government of their commitment.
As one survivor put it, “Children’s safety is our responsibility.”
Studies
Featured Publication
Scale of Harm: Estimating the Prevalence of Trafficking to Produce Child Sexual Exploitation Material in the Philippines
Learn More
Featured Publication
Paradigm Shift: Preventing Livestreamed Abuse of Children - Findings from the United Kingdom
Learn MoreLatest blogs and articles
Contact
Are you a policy maker wanting to learn more about how to prevent livestreamed abuse of children?
*Pseudonym. Image portrays actors