69 member states unite to combat online child abuse

In a historic move, 69 member states, including the United Kingdom and the United States, have come together at the United Nations to issue a joint call to action against the proliferation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on the internet.

 

The unprecedented statement emphasizes the private sector’s responsibility in safeguarding children from sexual exploitation and highlights the pressing need for more decisive measures.

 

The call to action follows two days of expert discussions in Vienna, facilitated by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime and supported by the British government.

 

Ambassador Corinne Kitsell, representing the United Kingdom, expressed particular concern about companies’ growing adoption of end-to-end encryption. She cautioned that deploying such encryption without robust child safety measures would pose significant challenges in detecting and removing CSAM.

 

The British government’s apprehensions regarding end-to-end encryption have sparked debates and controversies.

 

These concerns are reflected in the proposed Online Safety Bill, which includes a provision enabling the communications regulator Ofcom to mandate technology companies to monitor end-to-end encrypted messaging platforms for CSAM using accredited tools. However, no such tool has yet received accreditation, although various proposals have suggested client-side scanning as a solution. Initially seen as a way to address child safety concerns without compromising end-to-end encryption, these systems would be present on one of the endpoints.

 

Two senior directors at Britain’s GCHQ expressed support for client-side scanning. They published a paper advocating its use as an effective approach to tackle child safety challenges on major social media platforms while respecting privacy expectations.

 

Notably, Apple had initially considered incorporating client-side scanning in iOS 15 but faced significant backlash, including a cautionary statement from 14 esteemed computer scientists outlining the risks associated with the technology. Apple, WhatsApp, Signal, and other private sector and civil society organizations recently criticized the Online Safety Bill. They urged the British government to amend the proposed legislation to protect end-to-end encryption.

 

In response to the mounting concerns, the joint statement emphasizes the urgent need for collaboration between governments, internet service providers, access providers, and other stakeholders to protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse. It calls for a dialogue among these entities and sectors to develop an effective response to the pressing issue.