The Deputy Executive Director of Programmes at ECPAT International, an organization that fights commercial sexual exploitation of children, explains 5 steps to protect children from the increase of online sexual abuse and exploitation that has occured since lockdown.
In December 2020, technology tools that protect children from cyberbullying and online sexual exploitation were banned across the EU. As a result, some technology companies began using specialized tools to detect child sexual abuse, but others stopped scanning altogether. Shortly after the regulation, there was a 51% decrease in reports of online child sexual abuse, meaning a significant number of abused children remain undetected. EU institutions have since been struggling to allow companies to continue their protection measures. "Regulation is only one piece of the puzzle, but it has highlighted the urgent need to put children’s rights and safety at the center of all future policies."
So, how can we protect children from online sexual abuse and exploitation?
Safety-First Approach - Maximum safety and privacy settings should become the new standard on devices or services. Safety and privacy should not be neglected, and this approach assumes all users are children or vulnerable.
Strengthen European capacities - European law enforcement follows the US in these matters and a change in US law could affect child protection adversely in Europe. The European Commission is exploring building a new European Centre to prevent child sexual abuse, and the Centre could become a global focal point. It should find better ways to support victims by collaborating with child protection agencies while acting on its own.
Encryption - While end-to-end encryption is necessary to protect individuals' privacy, messaging services cannot operate in a way that guarantees impunity for people using it in inappropriate ways. These open questions need to be addressed.
Transparency and trust - "If companies claim they are protecting children, the claim must be verifiable." Technology companies should report to a mandated authority concerning their legal obligations, especially towards children.
Legal liability - Companies should be held accountable for online crimes, but as of now, they have immunity from crimes that happen on social platforms. When there is a victim, the company should keep their immunity only by showing that they have taken protective measures to mitigate the risk.