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Monday 25 November
After a thorough selection process, ICMEC Australia is proud to announce the appointment of Colm Gannon as our new CEO.
Colm steps away from his role as Non-Executive Chair of the ICMEC Australia Board to take on the pivotal role of CEO, bringing invaluable insights and continuity from his Board tenure. His appointment marks an exciting new chapter in ICMEC Australia's mission to protect vulnerable children from harm. Colm will officially commence his role on Monday, 2nd December 2024.
ICMEC Australia is committed to building a world where online technology cannot be used to exploit children. Our organisation plays a vital role in empowering and supporting the professionals who detect, report, prosecute, and prevent online child sexual exploitation (CSE).
We conducted an extensive recruitment process to select the right leader for ICMEC Australia. While there were several strong applicants, Colm Gannon’s extensive background in law enforcement combined with his expertise in the technology sector—particularly in child protection policy, privacy, and the ethical implementation of AI with Rigr AI—uniquely positions him as an outstanding leader to drive ICMEC Australia’s mission forward.
Colm’s visionary ideas, unwavering passion for the cause, and strong relationships within the child protection sector further solidify his position as the optimal leader to guide ICMEC Australia into the future.
In line with this leadership transition, we will expand the ICMEC Australia Board and appoint a new Chair. Additionally, we will be adding new Directors who will strengthen our governance framework and support our efforts as Colm transitions into his operational role. Our dedicated ICMEC Australia team will work alongside Colm to ensure a seamless transition.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to former CEO Anna Bowden, whose dedication and leadership have significantly shaped ICMEC Australia’s mission and achievements. Her legacy has strengthened our foundation and paved the way for continued progress.
As Colm begins his new role, we look forward to the fresh perspectives and energy he will bring to ICMEC Australia's mission. We warmly welcome Colm as we work together to create a safer world for children.
For inquiries or further information about partnering with ICMEC Australia or questions about ICMEC's Australia CEO announcement, please contact Acting CEO Rosie Campo at rcampo@icmec.org.au.
ICMEC Australia Board
We’re proud to launch our first-ever Impact Report, showcasing the incredible progress we've made at ICMEC Australia in the fight against child sexual exploitation (CSE).
In just over two years, ICMEC Australia has made a significant impact in strengthening the capability of industry professionals to detect, report, prosecute, and prevent CSE. Highlights include developing a groundbreaking data product, delivering five innovative projects with financial services and government partners, and providing dozens of educational webinars. We've also hosted five major industry events, commissioned cutting-edge research, and incubated eight new technology and data-driven initiatives.
With the support of our dedicated partners, we're setting new standards in child protection and making bold advances to safeguard children.
This year, we also achieved Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, enabling us to pursue new funding to continue our vital work.
We invite you to explore our Impact Report and join us in creating a safer future for every child.
Please read here: https://icmec.org.au/tracking-our-impact/
As part of Child Protection Week 2024, Australian law enforcement agencies have united for a weeklong intensive training program, focusing on the latest tools and techniques to combat the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This critical event underscores the nation's unwavering commitment to safeguarding children and dismantling networks that exploit them.
The training was attended by representatives from all Australian law enforcement agencies and was supported by leading organisations in the field of child protection, including ICMEC Australia, AiLECS Lab at Monash University, the Queensland Police Service's specialist unit Argos, and Child Rescue Coalition. Their expertise and dedication have been instrumental in equipping officers with the knowledge and skills needed to stay ahead of evolving threats.
Anna Bowden, CEO of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) Australia, highlighted the importance of the training:
“This program gave participants hands-on experience with the latest technological advancements and investigative techniques. ICMEC Australia is proud to sponsor this essential training for Australian law enforcement. We recognise the challenges faced in child protection cases and believe it’s crucial for those on the front lines to be equipped with the latest skills and knowledge to effectively fulfill their critical roles.”
Michael Donlan, CEO of CRC said “Child Rescue Coalition plays a unique role in the global online harms prevention ecosystem and we are proud of the difference we are making; our technology has resulted in 10's of thousands of offenders being arrested and even more children rescued from abuse. However, if we are to protect even more children, we need to work in partnership with key partners like ICMEC, academics and law enforcement partners to raise awareness and understanding. We are excited to be a part of this initiative!”
Detective Acting Superintendent Blanchfield from Queensland Police Service emphasised the significance of the training: “Child Protection Week is a reminder of the critical work that lies ahead in protecting our most vulnerable. This intensive training has strengthened our collective resolve and provided us with the cutting-edge tools needed to combat the distribution of child sexual abuse material more effectively.”
Associate Professor Campbell Wilson, Co-Director of AiLECS Lab from Monash University, added, “Collaboration between law enforcement, academic institutions and child protection organisations is vital in developing innovative solutions to this global problem. The support from ICMEC Australia and Child Rescue Coalition has been invaluable in making this training possible.”
ICMEC Australia and Child Rescue Coalition have long been at the forefront of efforts to protect children from exploitation. Their support in this initiative highlights their ongoing commitment to empowering law enforcement with the resources necessary to combat CSAM.
This intensive training is just one part of a broader strategy to enhance the capabilities of Australian law enforcement agencies in the fight against child exploitation. As Child Protection Week draws to a close, the participants leave the training with renewed determination and enhanced skills to continue their vital work in protecting children.
The training event will finalise on Friday 6 September. Representatives are available for interview.
Ends-
For further information, please contact:
Professor Jon Rouse: jon.rouse@monash.edu +61 416 120 663
About Child Protection Week Child Protection Week is an annual event in Australia dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of safeguarding children and preventing child abuse. It brings together communities, organizations, and professionals committed to protecting children and advocating for their rights.
About ICMEC Australia The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) Australia is a key advocate against online-facilitated child sexual exploitation (CSE), boldly confronting this issue alongside a coalition of partners. Their mission is to support and empower professionals in detecting, reporting, prosecuting, and preventing CSE. As an independent not-for-profit, ICMEC Australia collaborates with financial services, law enforcement, policymakers, academics, and NGOs to develop tools and strategies that protect children. Through data-driven initiatives, training, and research, ICMEC Australia is dedicated to creating a safer world for children.
About AiLECS Lab Born out of research collaboration on accelerating digital forensics and countering online child exploitation, AiLECS Lab is a formal collaboration between Monash University and the Australian Federal Police, and undertakes research and development to create the next generation of AI systems for law enforcement and community safety applications.
About Queensland Police Service Argos Unit The Argos Unit is a specialist branch of the Queensland Police Service, recognised internationally for its efforts in combating child exploitation and online child sexual abuse.
About Child Rescue Coalition Child Rescue Coalition is a nonprofit organisation that uses technology to protect children from sexual exploitation. Their work involves developing tools and resources to aid law enforcement in identifying and apprehending offenders.
Sharing your story as a victim-survivor of child sexual abuse can be an empowering experience. The more we bring this subject into the light and create community awareness, the less stigmatising it will become. However, engaging with the media can be a challenging and confusing experience potentially leading to further harm and trauma. Telling your story in a public forum is a courageous choice. If you have made this decision these guidelines, commissioned by the National office for Child Safety (NOCS), will help guide you and your loved ones through the process.
Full guide: Engaging with media about child sexual abuse: For victims and survivors.
Quick reference guide: Key principles for victims and survivors engaging with the media.
Child sexual abuse and exploitation is a challenging subject to report. The National Office for Child Safety (NOCS) has commissioned the University of Canberra News and Research Centre to create evidence-based media guides to support journalists and editors when reporting and writing about current or historical child abuse.
The guides are designed to encourage reporting that raises community awareness of child sexual abuse, reduce stigma, and empowers victim survivors when they share their personal stories wth the media.
Discussing child sexual abuse can be retraumatising for a victim-survivor sharing their story, but also when reading a story.
These guides provide advice on appropriate language and terminology, and what to avoid, as well as how to develop and frame stories that are victim survivor-centric and non-stigmatising. They also provide information on sensitivities to consider when engaging with victims and survivors.
Or, access the quick reference guides:
Anna Bowden's abuser had to get close to her when she was a child before the sexual exploitation began.
Today, people like her perpetrator can victimise Australian kids from anywhere. In fact, they can do it with the click of a button.
The advancement and accessibility of AI technology has triggered a "tidal wave" of sexually explicit 'deepfake' images and videos, and children are among the most vulnerable targets.
"Accessing and using AI software to create sexual deepfake images is alarmingly easy," Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor at ESET, tells 9honey.
From 2022 to 2023, the Asia Pacific region experienced a 1530 per cent surge in deepfake cases, per Sumsub's annual Identity Fraud Report.
One platform, DeepFaceLab, is responsible for about 95 per cent of deepfake videos and there are free platforms available to anyone willing to sign up with an email address.
They can then use real photos of the victim (usually harmless snaps from social media accounts) to generate whatever AI image they want; in about 90 per cent of cases, those images are explicit, according to Australia's eSafety Commissioner.
"We've got cases of deepfakes and people's faces being used in images which are absolutely and utterly horrific," reveals Bowden, CEO at the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) Australia.
This technology wasn't around when she was abused and it horrifies her to know it's already being used to victimise Aussie kids, many of whom have no idea they're at risk.
"We don't talk about it," she says. "There's no information. There's no idea of what offenders are doing, what we need to look out for.
"We're helping criminals because we're not communicating."
Despite the spike in deepfake cases, 79 per cent of Aussie social media users confessed they struggle to identify AI-generated content online, per a 2024 McAfee survey.
Many parents don't understand the power of AI and the dangers it can pose, so they don't know how to protect or educate their kids.
The worst part is that sometimes children can be perpetrators too.
ESET has recognised a surge in teen AI sextortion cases where teens are generating non-consensual, explicit images and videos of their peers to impress, bully, or intimidate others.
"Constant exposure to online content has desensitised many young individuals, reducing their understanding of the real-world consequences of their actions," Moore explains.
Teen perpetrators can be punishable under Australian law, but the victim may experience shame, fear, humiliation, loss of self-esteem, financial loss, and damage to their social standing.
"Just because those images or videos are AI generated does not mean they're harmless," Bowden says.
This kind of image-based abuse can cause mental and emotional distress, and some victims die by suicide. The worst part is that the deepfakes may never go away.
Advocate Noelle Martin was 18 when she discovered fake non-consensual images of her online and years later, the photos and videos are still online.
"This can destroy someone's entire identity and reputation, their name, and image, and self-determination, and dignity. It can define that person forever," she told 9honey.
A deepfake image or video of a child can spread rapidly and can be almost impossible to have removed from the internet.
Most social media platforms ban non-consensual explicit content, but AI-generated pornography slips through due to the sheer volume of content being posted.
"This makes it difficult for moderators to remove such content quickly enough, while users are swift to share, save, and screenshot these images," Moore notes, revealing they're often shared through private channels.
Earlier this year social media sites struggled to remove an explicit Al-generated image of Taylor Swift from their platforms.
The images were viewed more than 45 million times in 17 hours.
Now imagine if the target was your child, not the biggest celebrity in the world.
It could end up in the hands of child predators seeking out explicit content, who could then use the deepfake to generate even more vile non-consensual photos and videos bearing the face of an Aussie child they've never met.
Bowden describes it as "incredibly traumatic" and warns "it could be around for decades, if not longer.
Thankfully, organisations like ICMEC, ESET, and the Australian eSafety Commissioner are working to combat this.
"It's evolving so quickly that as we create solutions, the technology changes, and then we need a new solution again," Bowden says.
She works with Australian organisations, government and law enforcement to prevent deepfakes and other child sexual exploitation online, but says parents need education too.
That means learning about the risks of AI, explaining them to children in age appropriate ways, and teaching children basic online safety precautions.
It's an uncomfortable conversation and one many Aussies would rather not have, but silence won't help.
"It's just terrifying how low the level of awareness is and how high the risk is," Bowden adds. "We cannot keep just hoping this is going to go away."
Moore advises parents to maintain open communication so their children know they can speak up if something happens.
"If a child becomes a target of AI-generated porn, parents have to remain calm and reassure the child that they are not at fault," Moore adds.
"It is crucial to document all evidence and report the incident to the relevant authorities, such as the school and the police [and] contact the platform hosting the content to request its removal."
AI isn't going to go away, but deepfakes can be tackled and eradicated.
That will require an increase in awareness about the dangers and legal implications of sharing sexual content online, as well as tougher regulations to deter potential offenders, and more accountability from online services.
It will take work and the landscape of AI is changing rapidly, but Bowden is certain that "if the good guys all get together and want to make change, we can outnumber the bad guys".
Anna Bowden is the CEO of The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, she has extensive past experience in impact investing, philanthropy and impact strategy.
With an emphasis on building new models for social impact across the globe, Anna’s affinity for the vital work of countering child sexual exploitation, combined with a natural connection to innovative solutions to the world’s wicked problems, makes her a passionate leader. Read on for our interview with Anna!
Describe your career trajectory and how you got to your current position.
My career has always been driven by a passion for making a positive social impact. Over the past 20 years, this has guided me to work with businesses and organisations on programs that integrate social impact with investment and business.
I started my career in the back of a private equity office. This was where I first realised that the money, knowledge, and expertise I was surrounded by could be channelled towards positive social impact (an unusual take at the time). Looking back, this was a transformative moment in my career and a compass that guided me over the decades.
In 2022, I joined ICMEC Australia as Head of the Child Protection Fund before becoming CEO later that year. At ICMEC Australia, we focus on improving the detection, reporting, and prevention of online child sexual abuse. Our work is targeted at helping industry professionals sharpen the tools they need to address child sexual abuse and make a tangible difference.
As a survivor of this kind of abuse myself, I feel a deep sense of purpose in applying my skills to combat one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world. My career has shown that we can make a real difference by combining business and financial expertise with a commitment to social good. Even after 20 years, my sense that we can do better to protect the most vulnerable has only grown.
Take us through a typical day of work for you.
My days are usually quite busy, so I like to start my morning by blowing off steam at the gym at the crack of dawn, which is quickly followed by the madness of getting myself and two young children ready for work and school.
My days are typically split between meetings with our many stakeholders and our team, attending industry events, and working on strategic projects and reporting.
All the travelling to meetings and events means I’m usually squeezing in emails, work, and calls as I travel to and from things as best I can. I try hard to set aside an hour or so to have an early dinner with my family at the end of the day, and then usually log back on to finish a few pressing things before winding down for the night.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve encountered in your career, and how did you overcome it?
I’ve worked in several startups over the years, and it’s always both thrilling and challenging. The intensity of that challenge is heightened when it’s a nonprofit startup. As is the case with many nonprofits, funding is an enormous hurdle, which requires me to make a lot of tough decisions that not only affect me but the entire team and organisation.
There was a time when our organisation was undergoing a significant restructure, and this really challenged me on a personal and professional level. Of course, I knew that avoiding it wasn’t an option and as hard as it would be, we needed to face it head-on as a team to continue our mission of making a difference.
I found the process very emotionally draining. From the very beginning, I promised myself and my team that I would operate with complete transparency. We have a very small, very dedicated team of tight-knit professionals, so there were questions about what this would mean about individual roles and what it meant for the organisation as a whole.
Being vulnerable, open, and honest with my team helped us navigate the restructure and come out stronger on the other side. It wasn’t easy, but it reinforced the importance of having a strong, aligned structure to support our mission. This situation taught me how even when times are tough, your purpose should be your path forward. Everything we do is for the benefit of detecting and preventing child sexual abuse, and sometimes that comes with difficult, confronting, or uncomfortable decisions.
If you could go back in time, what piece of advice would you give yourself as you first embarked on your career?
I would remind myself that the mission always comes before your own comfort. I learned this many years ago when I took on a role thinking I was the right fit, only to find within a few days of starting that I wasn’t the best person for the job. I stayed for many months trying to make it work; partially because I didn’t want to leave the company in the lurch, but also because I was somewhat fearful of how such a short-lived role would look on my resume. I didn’t want future employers to think that I give up when the going gets tough.
Eventually, I realised that by staying in the role, I was hindering the organisation and its ability to fulfil its mission. While I was still concerned about how it would look professionally, I decided that I needed to check my ego and step away so someone better equipped for the role could step in. It was hard, but it’s something that I now look back on with gratitude because it taught me that when you work in the social impact space, you can never put your pride above the mission you’re working towards. I’d tell myself, this will hurt in the short term, but it will feel much better doing the right thing in the long term.
How do you unwind after work?
I won’t lie – learning to unwind is a work in progress for me. I have two young daughters and my passion for what we do at ICMEC Australia makes it very hard for me to switch off. I’m working on it, but I often battle with sending one more email or reviewing one more document instead of closing the laptop.
With that being said, I make an effort to disconnect from work and screens by 8 pm. As someone who has struggled with insomnia all my life, this gives me some time to clear my head before bed.
I’ve also recently started taking ‘quiet breaks’. I don’t think I could quite call it meditating – more like switching off all the stimuli and inputs for a bit. I’m a big believer in starting small – so I spend just five or 10 minutes a day calming my mind during a bit of silence. Hopefully I’ll get better at it as I go – maybe even enough to define it as meditating!
I also really enjoy reading and listening to podcasts, on a wide range of topics. I love learning. I don’t watch much television, but I’ll usually get through at least a couple of books a week.
Imagine a world where some of the most vulnerable people are subjected to the unimaginable, yet their suffering remains largely hidden in the shadows. For more than one in three Australian girls and almost one in five boys who experience child sexual abuse, this world is their reality.
Pretty confronting statistics. I was one of those statistics, having experienced abuse as a child, and it’s one of the many reasons why I am so passionate about bringing this topic out of the shadows and into the light by talking openly about child sexual abuse and exploitation and what we must do to stop it.
Despite its horrifying prevalence, child sexual exploitation (CSE) is rarely talked about. However, there are some things we can all do in our day-to-day lives as well as steps that industries and businesses can take to help put an end to this horrific crime.
Online child sexual exploitation is one of the fastest-growing crimes, so much so that the amount of the most severe category of child sexual abuse material has doubled since 2020. With children spending more time than ever online, this is a major threat to the safety of young people everywhere. A study released this week estimates that globally, over 300 million children were subject to abusive behaviours online, in the last year alone.
Unfortunately, the rapidly evolving nature of technology also makes CSE increasingly difficult to prevent, detect, and prosecute. Investigative approaches and companies who want to address this growing problem need support to develop the right resources, skills, and capacity to fight this crime.
ICMEC Australia works with companies – particularly in the financial services sector – governments, and charities to help them develop the knowledge, tools, and abilities to identify, prevent, and report CSE. We do this by delivering a number of programs, such as data products and training, that help to both empower these organisations and connect them in a united fight against CSE.
The only way to put an end to CSE is for organisations across every industry to look at where and how this crime thrives and to put measures in place that directly address it. It’s a collective effort, but by coming together, we can help prevent and stop children being harmed.
To address CSE, we must first address the significant gaps in the response ecosystem. The confronting truth is that various commercial sectors inadvertently have their digital platforms used by perpetrators seeking to access child sexual abuse material (CSAM). They pay for it via online banking accounts, target and groom children via social media, and share CSAM through communication services, apps and chat platforms.
Thousands of entities hold pieces of the digital evidence puzzle, but because these pieces are not connected, it’s impossible to form a complete picture. This means we all have a role to play in putting a stop to this crime, and that starts with collaboration.
Through our work at ICMEC Australia, we facilitate greater collaboration between industries and organisations through capability building and information and data sharing. To stay across emerging technology innovations, we also have a dedicated catalytic incubator that supports several data and technology projects. By fostering greater transparency, traceability, prosecution, and prevention of CSE, we are contributing to a world where children are safe from the life-changing consequences of this crime.
Another important part of our work is collaborating with law enforcement agencies on the frontlines of detecting and investigating perpetrators of CSE. Despite their pivotal role, the changing landscape of modern technology means they often need more support and resources to uplift their techniques.
Of course, we cannot address CSE without speaking about it – and this is often the hardest part of the process. I get it – there are few topics more distressing and disturbing, so it makes sense that people don’t want to think about it, much less talk about it. However, this only leads to larger gaps in public understanding and advocacy, and it’s in these gaps that this crime thrives.
One of the most significant awareness gaps is in parent-to-child communication. Research shows that while 97 per cent of households with children under 15 have access to the internet, just 52 per cent of Australian parents and carers are having conversations with their children about online safety. This leaves far too many children susceptible to exploitative encounters or material online, highlighting the need for greater awareness and education.
By increasing public awareness, ICMEC Australia drives meaningful change and encourages more proactive measures to protect children. It’s only by having these confronting conversations – whether it’s in our workplaces, in our personal lives, or directly with our children – that we can stand against CSE and create a world without it.
While ICMEC Australia may not work on the frontlines of CSE, it is our privilege to support those who do. Through connection and collaboration, we empower organisations, government agencies, and law enforcement professionals to ensure they are better equipped to tackle this growing problem. Together we can confront the realities of child sexual exploitation and bring justice to the countless vulnerable people who have been forced into silence.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.
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ICMEC Australia’s May Monthly Brown Bag webinar series featured Georgia Naldrett, the Stop It Now! Australia Manager within The Men’s Project at Jesuit Social Services and Dee Nicholas, the Senior Practitioner at Stop It Now! Australia.
During the session, Georgia and Dee delved into the importance of secondary prevention efforts in combatting child sexual abuse. They also examined emerging trends from the perpetrator prevalence study with UNSW and their work with perpetrators via the Stop It Now! Australia helpline, including what we know about their online behaviour (e.g. use of cryptocurrency, pornography use etc.).
ICMEC Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners throughout Australia and their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and Elders past and present.
