Child Safety Spotlight: INHOPE x ActiveFence

Just one week ago, ActiveFence became a funding partner of INHOPE, the global network combatting online Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). INHOPE dedicates its efforts to combat the growing global consequences of CSAM. 

Established in 1999, the organization is made up of member hotlines around the world that respond and work to take down reported CSAM. With 50 hotlines in 46 countries, members of the public can securely, anonymously, and confidentially report concerns in respect of illegal content online, and in particular, CSAM. INHOPE partners with NGOs and law enforcement agencies to directly support over 200 analysts working at its hotlines. 

In the year 2020 alone, INHOPE member hotlines exchanged 1,038,268 content URLs (individual media files) in 2020. 267,192 of the content URLs exchanged were assessed by analysts as being child sexual abuse material, of which 77% of victims depicted in these URLs were under 13 years of age. It’s clear that fighting CSAM is more important than ever.

 

So how are ActiveFence and INHOPE contributing to the fight against CSAM?

As part of our own work proactively bringing online integrity to platforms, we have put a major focus on combating CSAM. We support leading technology companies with our expertise in targeting child abuse online throughout the world. We hope to amplify the impact of our work through heightened monitoring of CSAM and removing illegal content before reaching technology platforms.  At the same time, INHOPE and their global partners are working to report and takedown CSAM.

“ActiveFence proactively came to us with a simple request ‘how can we help?’ This was not only to support INHOPE, but to support in the global fight against online CSAM,” said Denton Howard, Executive Director, INHOPE. “In the months and years ahead, we look forward to working with ActiveFence in pursuit of our vision of a digital environment free from CSAM.” 
-Denton Howard, Executive Director, INHOPE

This aims to minimize online CSAM by identifying illegal content before it can surface on platforms while, together, we are promoting the mental wellbeing and support ofdigital first responders. Exposed to some of the most difficult content online, digital first responders are at risk for psychological trauma and other adverse effects. As guardians of the internet who protect our wellbeing, we believe it’s our duty to protect those who are protecting us. 

With the promotion of resilience tools and practices, INHOPE and ActiveFence hope to change the harsh reality moderators face. CleanView, ActiveFence’s resource for trust and safety professionals, provides customisable options to blur difficult visual content on the web to minimize exposure. With CleanView, digital first responders can maintain their own wellbeing via built-in break reminders and guided mindfulness practices. Between INHOPE’s network and promotional capabilities along with ActiveFence’s CleanView, together we can make a difference.

Since our founding in 2018, we’ve helped our clients—big and small—tackle CSAM by identifying large networks comprising hundreds of predators. We’re excited to bring our work to the next level by collaborating with INHOPE in the fight against CSAM while dually protecting those who are exposed. 

Stay tuned for more news about this exciting partnership!