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Innovations in detecting and removing child sexual abuse material have been made possible by a grant from Nominet.
A “revolution” in assessing online child sexual abuse imagery is helping analysts assess multiple child sexual abuse images in seconds, rather than hours.
Clustering technology is now being used by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) to link similar images together, meaning hotline teams can quickly assess and grade hundreds of criminal images and make quick decisions to help get them blocked and removed.
The IWF is the UK organisation responsible for finding, disrupting, and taking down child sexual abuse imagery from the internet. Nominet – the public benefit company that operates and protects .UK internet infrastructure – works with charities and organisations that seek to improve lives through technology.
The IWF’s dedicated hotline analysts view hundreds of images and hours of child sexual abuse content every day in order to assess it according to UK law. The IWF has it blocked and removed from the internet in collaboration with tech companies and law enforcement agencies.
The IWF says assessments based on clusters can be 112% faster than assessing individual images.
It means different images with the same victim can quickly be identified from different parts of the internet, meaning analysts can quickly identify whether a victim is a child, and whether criminal abuse is taking place.
It also means they can assess criminal images in bulk, in the knowledge they depict child sexual abuse, without having to individually assess whole groups of, sometimes, hundreds of images. The breakthrough was funded by Nominet, which has funded the IWF’s work since 2018.
Chris Wilson, Head of Software Development at the IWF, said: “This makes our work faster and more accurate, and means we can really expand the realm of what is possible for our hotline analysts without exposing them to reams and reams of similar content.”
Mr Wilson added: “Merging an image into the cluster can provide vital context for us when assessing images. If we have already seen and assessed a video, the sub-images from it can be identified.
“This is the case even if the image itself shows no obvious child sexual material, or if the image does not contain enough of the victim to be sure. When it merges into the existing cluster, the analysts can then see the images before and after it in the video, which can often confirm one way or another whether the image is of a child or not.”
Tamsin McNally, Hotline Manager at the IWF, said: “What this means for our analysts is hard to overstate.
“Knowing an image can be quickly confirmed as having come from a broader set of materials which we have already confirmed as containing imagery of children suffering sexual abuse, means we can quickly take action without having to use precious time and resources.
“The new clustering tech has seen a revolution in the way we work in the hotline – it’s reduced analysts’ exposure to having to see the same imagery multiple times, and it has made it possible for us to improve the efficiency with which we can take action against criminal content.
“Before, there may have been multiple images which couldn’t be linked up. Now they can be joined together and analysts can take action agains the criminal imagery.
“It has made a big impact. It gives analysts and assessors more intelligence on victims who have been abused and helps us make better, quicker decisions.”
The developments in clustering technology are part of a wider group of innovations made possible by Nominet’s funding. Pledging a further £750k over three years, Nominet’s backing will enable the IWF to continue to evolve its technologies and techniques.
Paul Fletcher, CEO of Nominet said: “What makes this grant different is that the IWF has the flexibility to research, test, identify and innovate the technology they need.
“Due in part to our funding, the IWF can now respond quicker to its unique needs and make impactful changes to the lives of both its analysts and the children it seeks to protect.
“Our work with the IWF is vital to creating a safer and secure internet – both in the UK and beyond, and we look forward to seeing this new clustering tech turn the tide on this criminal activity.”
The public is given this advice when making a report to iwf.org.uk/report:
Do report only once for each web address – or URL. Repeat reporting of the same URL isn’t needed and wastes analysts’ time.
About the IWF
We make the internet a safer place. We help victims of child sexual abuse worldwide by identifying and removing online images and videos of their abuse. We search for child sexual abuse images and videos and offer a place for the public to report them anonymously. We then have them removed. We’re a not for profit organisation and are supported by the global internet industry.
For more information please visit www.iwf.org.uk
The IWF is part of the UK Safer Internet Centre, working with Childnet International and the South West Grid for Learning to promote the safe and responsible use of technology.
The IWF works globally to stop child sexual abuse imagery on the internet. If you ever stumble across a sexual image or video of someone you think is under 18, please report to the IWF. Reporting can be done anonymously and confidentially – we don’t need your details, just your help.
About Nominet
Nominet is a public benefit company, driven by a commitment to use technology to improve connectivity, security and inclusivity online. For 25 years, Nominet has developed an expertise in the Domain Name System (DNS) that now underpins sophisticated threat monitoring, detection, prevention, and analytics that is used by governments to mitigate cyber threats. Our social impact programme provides funding, support and opportunities to help tackle some of the most important digital issues facing young people in the UK today.
Our funding addresses long-standing social challenges in which technology can play a pivotal role, to find out more visit: https://www.nominet.uk/social-impact/
The post New clustering tech ‘revolution’ helps analysts assess child sexual abuse imagery in seconds appeared first on Nominet.
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A “revolution” in assessing online child sexual abuse imagery is helping analysts assess multiple child sexual abuse images in seconds, rather than hours.
Clustering technology is now being used by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) to link similar images together, meaning hotline teams can quickly assess and grade hundreds of criminal images and make quick decisions to help get them blocked and removed.
The IWF is the UK organisation responsible for finding, disrupting, and taking down child sexual abuse imagery from the internet. Nominet – the public benefit company that operates and protects .UK internet infrastructure – works with charities and organisations that seek to improve lives through technology.
The IWF’s dedicated hotline analysts view hundreds of images and hours of child sexual abuse content every day in order to assess it according to UK law. The IWF has it blocked and removed from the internet in collaboration with tech companies and law enforcement agencies.
The IWF says assessments based on clusters can be 112% faster than assessing individual images.
It means different images with the same victim can quickly be identified from different parts of the internet, meaning analysts can quickly identify whether a victim is a child, and whether criminal abuse is taking place.
It also means they can assess criminal images in bulk, in the knowledge they depict child sexual abuse, without having to individually assess whole groups of, sometimes, hundreds of images. The breakthrough was funded by Nominet, which has funded the IWF’s work since 2018.
Chris Wilson, Head of Software Development at the IWF, said: “This makes our work faster and more accurate, and means we can really expand the realm of what is possible for our hotline analysts without exposing them to reams and reams of similar content.”
Mr Wilson added: “Merging an image into the cluster can provide vital context for us when assessing images. If we have already seen and assessed a video, the sub-images from it can be identified.
“This is the case even if the image itself shows no obvious child sexual material, or if the image does not contain enough of the victim to be sure. When it merges into the existing cluster, the analysts can then see the images before and after it in the video, which can often confirm one way or another whether the image is of a child or not.”
Tamsin McNally, Hotline Manager at the IWF, said: “What this means for our analysts is hard to overstate.
“Knowing an image can be quickly confirmed as having come from a broader set of materials which we have already confirmed as containing imagery of children suffering sexual abuse, means we can quickly take action without having to use precious time and resources.
“The new clustering tech has seen a revolution in the way we work in the hotline – it’s reduced analysts’ exposure to having to see the same imagery multiple times, and it has made it possible for us to improve the efficiency with which we can take action against criminal content.
“Before, there may have been multiple images which couldn’t be linked up. Now they can be joined together and analysts can take action agains the criminal imagery.
“It has made a big impact. It gives analysts and assessors more intelligence on victims who have been abused and helps us make better, quicker decisions.”
The developments in clustering technology are part of a wider group of innovations made possible by Nominet’s funding. Pledging a further £750k over three years, Nominet’s backing will enable the IWF to continue to evolve its technologies and techniques.
Paul Fletcher, CEO of Nominet said: “What makes this grant different is that the IWF has the flexibility to research, test, identify and innovate the technology they need.
“Due in part to our funding, the IWF can now respond quicker to its unique needs and make impactful changes to the lives of both its analysts and the children it seeks to protect.
“Our work with the IWF is vital to creating a safer and secure internet – both in the UK and beyond, and we look forward to seeing this new clustering tech turn the tide on this criminal activity.”
The public is given this advice when making a report to iwf.org.uk/report:
- Do report images and videos of child sexual abuse to the IWF to be removed. Reports to the IWF are anonymous.
- Do provide the exact URL where child sexual abuse images are located.
- Don’t report other harmful content – you can find details of other agencies to report to on the IWF’s website.
- Do report to the police if you are concerned a child may be in immediate danger.
Do report only once for each web address – or URL. Repeat reporting of the same URL isn’t needed and wastes analysts’ time.
About the IWF
We make the internet a safer place. We help victims of child sexual abuse worldwide by identifying and removing online images and videos of their abuse. We search for child sexual abuse images and videos and offer a place for the public to report them anonymously. We then have them removed. We’re a not for profit organisation and are supported by the global internet industry.
For more information please visit www.iwf.org.uk
The IWF is part of the UK Safer Internet Centre, working with Childnet International and the South West Grid for Learning to promote the safe and responsible use of technology.
The IWF works globally to stop child sexual abuse imagery on the internet. If you ever stumble across a sexual image or video of someone you think is under 18, please report to the IWF. Reporting can be done anonymously and confidentially – we don’t need your details, just your help.
About Nominet
Nominet is a public benefit company, driven by a commitment to use technology to improve connectivity, security and inclusivity online. For 25 years, Nominet has developed an expertise in the Domain Name System (DNS) that now underpins sophisticated threat monitoring, detection, prevention, and analytics that is used by governments to mitigate cyber threats. Our social impact programme provides funding, support and opportunities to help tackle some of the most important digital issues facing young people in the UK today.
Our funding addresses long-standing social challenges in which technology can play a pivotal role, to find out more visit: https://www.nominet.uk/social-impact/
The post New clustering tech ‘revolution’ helps analysts assess child sexual abuse imagery in seconds appeared first on Nominet.
Continue reading...
