The Internet: Investigation Report

This investigation focusses on the growing problem of online-facilitated child sexual abuse. The increase in access to and use of the internet has brought undeniable benefits to society. It has also enabled a section of society to misuse the internet. The harm done to children and their families is incalculable. Those affected live in fear that images of them being sexually abused remain available on the internet.

The research concentrates on three types of abuse:

• Indecent images mean every pictures, photographs or pseudo-photographs showing a child/children under the age of 18 in a sexual pose.
• The process of the grooming of a child is when the perpetrator “prepares a child for sexual abuse”. It involves sexual messages to children or when an adult arranges a meeting for sexual purposes. Unfortunately, social media sites make these processes much easier.
• Live streaming of a child means “the broadcasting of realtime, live footage of a child being sexually abused over the internet.”

Learn more about the issues around the above topics and the recent technology solution to prevent these (e.g. PhotoDNA).

Furthermore, you can find in this report future development directions, conclusions and recommendations.