Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)’s Post

Last week we published our updated #AI report, revealing the growing number of perfectly realistic videos and images of child sexual abuse circulating online using artificial intelligence. Read the report's conclusions and our recommendations for government at iwf.org.uk/aireport #research #artificialintelligence

🚨The Future of CSAM Detection: Why Hashing Alone Isn't Enough 🚨 How does cutting-edge #AI tech revolutionize the fight against Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)? Our latest blog post delves into why traditional image hashing methods are no longer sufficient and highlights the advancements of AI models and #ComputerVision in enhancing detection. Discover how to make the internet #safer for children - Stay informed about the future of CSAM detection. 🚀 👉https://lnkd.in/d6AfMNKF

Did you miss the livestream today on the discussion to proactively mitigate the misuse of #AI? Not to worry, you can catch the recording down below. Thorn, All Tech Is Human, Google, OpenAI and Stability AI shared the new Safety by Design Generative AI Principles to prevent child sexual abuse. https://lnkd.in/g63qrxTY #safetybydesign #trustandsafety

Hey everyone, check out the latest blog post on TechCrunch! The European Union has proposed new legislation to criminalize AI-generated child sexual abuse and deepfakes. This initiative aims to address the challenges posed by technological advancements. Learn more about the proposed changes and their potential impact here: https://ift.tt/8v1zUto. #EU #Deepfakes #TechCrunch #SocialMediaMarker #AI #ChildSexualAbuse

Child predators are using AI to create sexual images of their favorite stars: My body will never be mine again Safety groups say they’re increasingly finding chats about creating images based on past child sexual abuse materialPredators active on the dark web are increasingly using artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit images of children, fixat... https://lnkd.in/ehcZnfXe #AI #ML #Automation

“On 24 May 2023, our team uncovered a disturbing collection of AI-generated child sexual abuse images. This discovery thrust us into a new and challenging reality.” – Chris Hughes, Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) Hotline Director INHOPE’s hotline of the month has taken on a critical challenge: addressing the rise of AI-generated child sexual abuse content. This year, their team identified tens of thousands of these artificial images within just six months, exposing a rapidly growing and complex threat. The emergence of AI-generated abuse material represents a new dimension in the fight against child exploitation. IWF is exploring how to leverage AI technology to detect and eliminate harmful content, reinforcing their commitment to innovation. 👉Click here to learn more about their research on AI: https://bit.ly/4cckZs9 #hotlineofthemonth #IWF #AIgenerated #inhope #memberhotline #globalnetwork #safeinternet #childsafety #onlineprotection #fightCSAM #trendsanddata #behindthescreens

How is technology, designed for creativity, exploited to generate child sexual abuse material (CSAM)? INHOPE hotlines have reported a surge in AI-generated content, making it significantly challenging to distinguish from real abuse material. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)'s research reveals shocking numbers and exposes online 'manuals' guiding offenders. This new trend holds many implications and presents new challenges for child online safety - from the normalisation of CSAM to increasing workloads for hotline analysts. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dnqnDciQ #AI #generativeAI #ArtificialIntelligence #FightCSAM #IWF #technology #onlinesafety #whatis #AIcontent #hotlines

This insightful article by INHOPE highlights how tech innovations can impact digital safety of children. Safe Online lead Marija Manojlovic in a recent essay highlighted 3 key strategies for navigating rapidly evolving technology and creating a resilient digital ecosystem for our youth. 📖Dive into the full article: https://bit.ly/3RyuVDi Let's collaborate to make the digital world #SafeOnline

Generative AI CSAM is CSAM. The creation and circulation of GAI CSAM (Generative AI Child Sexual Abuse Material) is harmful and illegal. This is not a victimless crime, read more: https://lnkd.in/edWFmH3W

This issue is receiving more awareness and I am so grateful for it. I had this in the back of my mind last summer as it was a topic discussed with my supervisor during my internship with CCU. I am interested to see more awareness of this issue for the public, especially from a legal standpoint. How will prosecutors handle this type of charge? The argument of, "Well, it is not a real child so there was no actual harm done." This is a dangerous misconception as it minimizes the damage that would have been done if the AI CSAM was an actual child in CSAM. It also dismisses the individual involved in the creation of AI CSAM, who have a serious mental disorder and should be prosecuted for acting on their perverse desires. It will also be interesting to see how juries will interpret this should cases involving AI CSAM go to court. Much like a murder trial, it is easier to convince a jury to charge an individual when there is physical evidence of a crime (in a murder, having the body of a victim). How will a jury interpret evidence like AI CSAM when it is entirely electronic? How would a prosecutor convince them the individual behind it actually created it and it was not someone else? How would a prosecutor convince a jury that a crime did occur and this person must face the consequences, despite there not being physical proof of a child being harmed? Another aspect of the development of AI CSAM is what software companies are doing to prevent this type of material from being created on their platforms. Do we hold them accountable for said material being created using their software, especially when it is distributed and downloaded by other users around the world? How do we approach this if companies have filters to prevent this type of material from being created but it still happens anyway? Is there a way these companies can work with law enforcement to prevent the creation of this material and report users who create it to them? While there is current legislation and programs combating CSAM and AI CSAM, there is room for improvement for legislation. Some pieces are a bit outdated so I hope legislation will eventually be adapted to modern times. It should not only include specifications for consequences for those creating AI CSAM but also distributing it. Much like how some dismiss the harms of those creating AI CSAM/CSAM, there is also some dismissal of those who possess/distribute it. Some may view them as less harmful (especially if it is determined to be AI CSAM) as they were not directly involved in the creation of it. People who feel this way fail to see the real life impact distribution/possession of CSAM/AI CSAM has on an individual, especially a child, as it not only continues their victimization and dehumanization, but furthers the trauma they suffer. Please keep this in mind, especially if you have children and/or are working with AI. Be mindful of this danger and be active in spreading awareness to those around you!