Child porn in chat groups can now be reported immediately

Reporting Hotline and the OCAEB

The Reporting Hotline for Internet Child Pornography and consequently also the report desk for child porn in chat groups are operated by the OCAEB. Traditionally, the Reporting Hotline has focused its expertise primarily on tackling CSEM on the internet. Creation of the new report desk therefore represents a significant change. In August 2020, the team launched a special mobile network number, that people can use to immediately notify the OCAEB about CSEM they receive.

"A chat group is different from other platforms where CSEM is shared," says Arda. "Groups are often closed, and material is mainly shared by phone in encrypted form. So outsiders can't easily see what's going on. What's more, images shared in chats don't have URLs. That means we can't use the notice-and-take-down mechanism to get the material removed, as we do with pornography on websites. The report desk for child porn in chat groups has a dual function. First we contribute to the logging of new material and material already known to the police. We're able to see how often items are shared, and the police use our information to trace perpetrators and victims whenever they can. Second, the desk helps people who have received CSEM by enabling them to share their shock with a trusted party. It can be very frustrating to receive this kind of material and feel powerless to prevent its circulation."

Immediate, anonymous reporting

"Anyone who receives CSEM can report it anonymously, using our mobile network number. We ask recipients to forward the original material when making reports. Where possible, we also try to get details of the location, the region, or the group circulating the material. We can then see whether reports have been made by other people in the same region. After processing a report, we ask the recipient to immediately delete the material. And, finally, we give them access to a set of downloadable stickers. Then, if they come across CSEM in the chat group, they can use the stickers to label the material as inappropriate," explains Arda. The stickers are specially designed for young people, and worded in the kind of language they use: "Stop, awkward!" and "Delete this!"

Support from SIDN and SIDN Fund

"SIDN Fund has provided financial support, enabling us to get the report desk up and running. The Fund's grant also paid for development of the stickers. What's more, Valerie Frissen, the Fund's CEO, regularly talks to us about ways of securing additional funding, so that we can continue expanding and optimising our programme." "We also have a standing sponsorship arrangement with SIDN itself, which enabled us to create the parent programme, the Reporting Hotline. That's a very important relationship for us. I should add that this isn't the first time that SIDN Fund has given us a grant. Eighteen months ago, they helped us optimise our reporting procedure in collaboration with the AbuseIO foundation. We're currently taking forward development of the open-source tool that AbuseIO created." "The CSEM trade causes huge suffering," says SIDN Fund's Programme Manager Mieke van Heesewijk. "For the victims, of course, but also for internet users who are unexpectedly confronted by distressing images. So the work done by the Reporting Hotline is extremely important. The new tool will enable people to report material shared with them in chat groups. And that will help efforts to frustrate the distribution of CSEM and make the internet safer. SIDN Fund is therefore very pleased to support this project."

Wider use of the stickers

"We want to extend the sticker set this year and organise a campaign around it. The aim is to get a bigger target group using the stickers. Secondary school students who get nude photos sent to them, for example. We believe that the stickers can help recipients make their feelings clear to senders. The initiative can support a more effective response to the problem of CSEM in chat groups." "We also hope to raise the profile of the report desk for child porn in chat groups. We want to increase awareness amongst young people, adults and the police. By working together and immediately reporting CSEM, we can stop images of abuse circulating further," emphasises Arda. Are you a hosting service provider, and do you want to help protect children online? Then download the free software from the Hash Database project. For more information about the report desk for child porn in chat groups, visit the Reporting Hotline for Internet Child Pornography.