According to the UK’s Internet Watch Foundation, Apple could have been doing a lot more to report incidents of child sexual abuse material detected on its platforms. The IWF works to identify and remove harmful content from the internet but warned that tech companies have a massive role in preventing the proliferation of CSAM.

Background and Allegations

The IWF’s accusations against Apple relate to an alleged lack of transparency and cooperation in reporting CSAM. According to the IWF, cases that go unreported by Apple undermine broader attempts at child protection online. Indeed, there are growing concerns about the accessibility of illegal content during the pandemic because people are forced to spend more time at home or indulge in risky behaviors.

IWF’s Role and Data

The IWF is a UK-based charity that works with industry partners to block and filter access to CSAM. Recently, it was revealed that millions of attempts by UK internet users to access CSAM were made during one month of lockdown. The data, supplied by three tech companies and using the IWF’s URL list, underlines the extent of the problem. These URL lists are significant tools that would help Internet companies prevent users from accessing illegal content and help victims by lessening the circulation of their abuse materials.

Call to Action

According to Susie Hargreaves, the chief executive of the IWF, more companies need to “step up” in the fight against online child sexual abuse. Added to this was that while millions of UK internet connections are filtered using the IWF’s list, some companies just need to put more protections in place. It called on the companies that still need to step up and block/report CSAM, which would go a long way in protecting children and supporting law enforcement authorities.

Industry and Law Enforcement Response

The IWF’s appeals have been recently repeated by the NCA and police chiefs in the UK, who have also called for more decisive actions from tech companies. Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for child protection, says tech companies need to block access to CSAM and be much more proactive in working with authorities to identify those at risk of committing sexual abuse, as the online predator population increases. Stop It Now! The UK and Ireland Child Protection Charity also backs this position, asking tech companies to take action when users are acting illegally and to offer help to people who want their behavior to change.

Conclusion

Accusations against Apple only underline the broader issue within the tech industry: taking comprehensive and proactive measures to end online child sexual abuse. The pandemic has only accelerated this issue, and for that matter, every internet company needs stringent measures in place to report illegal content and support initiatives that work towards lowering the prevalence of CSAM. To this end, tech companies, law enforcement agencies, and organizations such as the IWF need to cooperate to protect children better and make the online environment safer from this harmful material.