Turning the Tide Against Online Child Abuse
In this article, Marilyn Hawes of Freedom From Abuse examines online child abuse, following the government's decision to delay the launch of new legislation to bring in new measures to combat this rapidly growing problem
The Impact of the Delay
The legislation to protect children from harm online is set to be delayed for at least another three months. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), has warned the move would delay legislation that could protect children from 'industrial scale' abuse online.
“I am not trying to sensationalise this issue. There is a desperate need for all schools, students, staff, and parents to understand that this is not a game. The impact of online harm is horrific. Online child sex offenders are sophisticated online criminals.”
The Typology of Online Grooming Offenders Identified in US Research
“Cynical” offender: 35%
Fully aware they were committing crimes. Some sophistication and deception but usually targeted at a small number of children, without getting emotionally attached. In addition to meeting victims online, many targeted children are already known to them offline.
“Experts”: 32%
Some engagement with CSAM was common. Fully aware they were committing crimes, adopting sophisticated methods to target and deceive children and evading detection. Targeted high volumes of children online and did not get emotionally attached. Common to collaborate with other online offenders and possess large volumes of CSAM.
“Affection-focused": 21%
Experienced genuine feelings and engaged in a reciprocal exchange with the victim. In some cases, unaware they were communicating with a minor or of the illegality of their actions. Face-to-face meetings commonly occurred as a progression of the “relationship”. Rarely found to otherwise engage with CSAM.
“Sex-focused”: 12%
No specific sexual interest in children but were seeking to arrange a sexual encounter with another online. If approached, they engaged in reciprocal exchanges with someone underage. In some cases, the child misrepresented their age, though on discovering their real age some continued with the encounter.
The Copine Scale
It is easy to just blame the police, but they are overwhelmed with collecting the huge volumes of CSAM, they must process and grade them on the Copine Scale. They are torn between dealing with the massive number of criminal acts or investigating the complex criminality involved. There are very real and understandable concerns about the mental health of officers who sit for hours looking at the most depraved material meted out on even babies. They require more resources, staff and more sophisticated technology.
There are many more issues and recommendations, but the task is monumental.
In October 2020, the IWF asked 79 organisations to track the access requests for CSA images over the 31 days. The size of the problem is colossal, three companies returned their findings which were 8.8 million attempts.
Category A: Images involving penetrative sexual activity with an animal or sadism, sexual torture & snuff videos - this age group is becoming younger
Category B: Images involving non-penetrative sexual activity
Category C: Other indecent images not falling within categories A or B
Advice
There is no magic wand - it isn’t rocket science and everyone needs to ramp up their awareness and monitor what is occurring on devices. Kids will always find a way around things, but it is our responsibility to ensure we help children with real knowledge to protect themselves, as they are in the front line of attack:
- Remove devices from private areas and download the free SAFE FAMILIES app and set filters, times, controls etc;
- Keep webcams covered;
- Talk openly about reality – not doing so leaves youngsters more vulnerable;
- The issue of pornography is now proven to be driving HSB;
- Parents should attend all training offered by schools in this regard;
- It is important children fully understand how grooming works online and how the offenders disguise their appearance and voice through a distorted;
- DSLs and PSHE staff do not always have the up-to-date fresh information NOR are they able to deliver the training in a way which enables the students to think critically;
- Young people love real stories and case studies as they make issues "real". Unfortunately, staff usually do not have these at their fingertips;
- I have been in so many schools and watched the students glaze over unless someone new and vibrant is in front of them. They sense a fraud a mile off and they KNOW those who are afraid of taking them over the line; and
- We have daily updates, and the landscape is changing at a phenomenal rate. It doesn’t stay still for long!
Acronyms
CAID Child Abuse Image Database
CEOP Child Exploitation And Online Protection Command
CSA Child Sexual Abuse
CSAE Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
CSAM Child Sexual Abuse Material
CSE Child Sexual Exploitation
KIRAT Kent Internet Risk Assessment Tool
MLAT Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty
NCMEC National Center For Missing And Exploited Children (US)
OCAG Online Child Abuse Activist Groups
P2P A network of computers in which users can communicate and share files stored on their computer with other users on the network (ie Peer-to-peer)
ROCU Regional Organised Crime Unit
Self-Generated Images
In July 2022, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) discovered an increase of 374% in self-generated images. These are from this generation of youngsters sexting, which is illegal, and live streaming to random strangers on their webcams in their bedrooms or bathrooms. The offenders preferred platform is live streaming as they can’t be traced. The recording is then sold on the Dark Web to like-minded others in various forums according to their specific taste. The Dark Web is heavily encrypted, police are unable to track and trace
They also found a vast increase in websites featuring CSA images and videos:
2019: 38, 424 URLs found
2021: 182, 281 URLs found
If you are concerned and need some support, please visit: www.mariecollinsfoundation.org.uk