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.

Recent press coverage and events in Australia have sparked widespread discussions about online safety, highlighting the way technology has increasingly integrated into our daily lives, particularly for children. Concerns about online harms have surged to the forefront of public consciousness, prompting a call for urgent action.

ICMEC Australia welcomes the recent decision by the Federal Government to enforce stronger measures preventing Australian children from accessing explicit online content. This initiative represents a key step in shielding children from harmful exposure to pornography and artificial intelligence-generated sexual content online.

It is evident that there is a lot more work to be done in this space and a pressing need for comprehensive online safety measures to protect individuals, especially children from online threats. With sextortion increasing along with the prevalence of AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM), there is an urgency for us to act. We strongly support the unrelenting efforts of the eSafety Commissioner in online child protection and in setting a global standard for responding to this crime.

We must take a collaborative approach, with all stakeholders playing a role in fostering a safer online environment. By fostering partnerships between government, industry, educators, parents, and young people themselves, Australia can cultivate a culture of responsibility and accountability in the digital space.

The Online Safety Act typically undergoes a review every three years. However, in response to the rapid changes in the online landscape since 2021, the process has been brought forward. The Australian Government is now asking for input and insights into the review process. ICMEC Australia is committed to prioritising child protection, and we encourage you to join us in ensuring it remains a top priority. You can contribute by submitting your input to The Act here.

Together, we can work towards creating a safer and more secure online world for children.

ICMEC Australia’s Child Protection Fund (CPF) provides support to data and technology-driven approaches that reduce and prevent sexual exploitation of children across several areas, including data acquisition, technological solutions and ecosystem strengthening.

Our CPF is carefully tailored to respond to the needs and issues identified by stakeholders on the frontlines of responding to Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and takes a targeted approach that aims to support and grow programs that catalyse data, technology, and preventative approaches to reduce and prevent CSE.

Key recent highlights include :

Data Analysis Project to Study Successful Techniques in Child Victim Identification, led by Paul Griffiths (Queensland Police Service – QPS)

As part of ICMEC Australia’s support towards ecosystem strengthening, Paul Griffiths from QPS has recently completed a world first Victim Identification Case Data Analysis program and presented his groundbreaking project to Interpol Specialist Group on Crimes Against Children in early March.

Collaborating with Australian and international law enforcement agencies, Paul reviewed close to 2,500 cases, of which 800 of these cases were found to have involved the use of one or more recognised technique, which resulted in the identification of the child, or children, depicted in the associated media and/or the identification of the suspected producer.

Detailed annotation of the investigative techniques disclosed 40 distinct techniques that had been successfully employed in previous cases. These techniques primarily rely on visual, digital, and intelligence-based/environmental clues. The analysis also made clear the importance of capturing and recording the techniques that have been applied in investigations, and flagging those that were successfully employed. Such a process not only assists in the review of unidentified cases, but also provides a mechanism going forward for the continued growth of corporate memory for the international victim identification community.

Queensland Police Service Argos Victim Identification Manager, Paul Griffiths, said he was honoured to be given the opportunity to carry out the study:

“I am certainly pleased with the way it has turned out and INTERPOL was the ideal venue to share the outcomes, the project will definitely be the catalyst for continued developments in the victim identification community.”

StopitNow! Program – Jesuit Social Services

Another example of ICMEC Australia’s commitment to fortifying ecosystems in the fight against CSE is our partnership with Jesuit Social Services (JSS) supporting the expansion and development of their child sexual abuse prevention service – Stop It Now! – in Australia. The platform offers an anonymous helpline, chat and web resources for people concerned about their own sexual thoughts and behaviours towards children or to people concerned about the thoughts or behaviours of others – aiming to prevent child sexual abuse.

Tiphanie Au, Head of Impact at ICMEC Australia believes that:

“Safeguarding children is a shared responsibility that requires a multifaceted approach involving education, awareness, and intervention”.

ICMEC Australia saw a gap in the sector, with a much needed service needing interim support after coming to the end of its initial funding from Westpac’s Safer Children, Safer Communities grant program. The Child Protection Fund stepped in during this bridging phase and managed the partnership process in a very streamlined, but supportive way to create the best impact in the sector. This includes additional in-kind contributions from the broader ICMEC Australia team to enhance the program outcomes and ultimately prevent child sexual exploitation.

StopItNow! has seen significant success internationally, including the UK and Ireland. The current program that ICMEC Australia is supporting aims to further enhance the adaptation of this service to the Australian context.

Through the data and insights derived from this groundbreaking program, the knowledge base regarding the behaviours and characteristics of undetected offenders will be enhanced. This will in turn assist ICMEC Australia and other stakeholders in the child sexual exploitation response ecosystem to consider and develop innovative technological approaches to disrupt and prevent child sexual abuse offending from occurring in the first place.

Australian RedFlag Accelerator CSE Portal – RedCompass Labs

RedCompass Labs, a UK-based payments expert services company, was one of ICMEC Australia’s first recipients of support from the CPF to advance technological approaches to combating CSE.
ICMEC Australia partnered with RedCompass Labs to localise the Global RedFlag Accelerator Typologies on CSE to make them easily accessible for the first time to Australian financial services institutions (FSI’s) via an online portal. The objective is to provide Australian financial services institutions with access to additional localised intelligence to assist their work in the detection and reporting of CSE. The development of these insights and analytics enhances financial institutions’ capabilities to identify crimes against children.

Under Phase 1, a working version of the Australian RedFlag Accelerator CSE Portal has been delivered. ICMEC Australia has further invested in RedCompass Labs to enhance the Portal under Phase 2, involving additional user testing and feedback from a pilot group of users, including Westpac. From March onwards, ICMEC Australia is collaborating with RedCompass Labs on a beta user program, extending portal access to additional financial services actively participating in ICMEC Australia’s Collaboration Working Group.

Mark Dickson, Executive Manager, Financial Intelligence Unit at Westpac Group, says,

‘Having been involved from the very first user test group, I see great value in the Portal being used as a one-stop-shop for all Australian banks to access the latest CSE typologies. This is only possible through ICMEC Australia’s work in bringing RedCompass Lab’s global tool to Australia, enhancing the CSE detection capabilities for the Australian FinCrime community.’

Approaching the end of the year is often a time of furious activity combined with moments of reflection on the successes and challenges throughout the previous twelve months.

As a sector, the child sexual exploitation response ecosystem has witnessed both in 2023, in Australia and globally. 

On a positive note, we’ve seen the registering of six of the online safety industry codes by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant. Five industry codes, Social Media Services, Internet Carriage Services, Equipment Providers, App Distribution Services and Hosting Services, were registered in June, coming into effect on 16th December 2023. The revised search engine code was registered in September, and will come into effect on 12 March 2024. And the Commissioner issued the draft Industry Standards for the remaining two industries of Relevant Electronic Services and Designated internet Services in November, with industry consultation to close on 21st December. 

This is a significant achievement by the eSafety Commissioner as she implements the requirements of the world-leading Online Safety Act 2021. 

Other regulatory wins this year include the final passing of the UK Online Safety Act, which received Royal Assent in October, and the first tier of regulations under the EU Digital Services Act coming into force in August. Along with the formation of the US and Australian Joint Council on Combatting Online Child Sexual Exploitation in May, the level of focus and collaboration at government level around the world is encouraging. 

However, alongside this positive action we have also seen a slew of research released this year that highlights the sheer prevalence of the crime experienced by children in Australia and around the world. The Australian Child Maltreatment Study, a landmark research project released in April, identified that more than one in four Australian children experiences child sexual abuse. 

This is just one of many research projects published this year that offer sobering statistics and alarming results. The vital work that Australian and international researchers carry out underpins how we respond to this issue, both as professionals and a community as a whole. It helps to create greater awareness of the issue and inform our actions and initiatives. Whilst the results can sometimes be difficult to read, without this work, the sector would be operating in the dark. We’ve created a summary of some of the key studies this year, which you can download here.

In addition to the research statistics, we’ve also experienced collective horror at news stories revealing the dark truth of this crime, in cases such as Operation Tenterfield as well as the ongoing and increasing reports of the sextortion of Australian children to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE). These cases serve as a reminder that we are not dealing with faceless statistics. These are real children significantly impacted by a horrific crime. 

Despite the darkness that comes with this work, the most uplifting moments of 2023 have been witnessing the collaboration and commitment shown by those in the CSE response community. 

This year has been one of growth for the ICMEC Australia team, gaining the expertise and experience of several of the industry’s most experienced professionals. We are humbled and privileged that these people have joined us in supporting the sector in this essential work.

But the most rewarding aspect of this year has been to experience the passion that our partners have for doing all they can to eliminate child sexual abuse facilitated online. Our inaugural Financial Symposium in October saw so many people willing to give their time to share their expertise with those who would traditionally be considered competitors, in order to help protect children. 

As a team, we are incredibly proud of our achievements this year but most of all, we are grateful to have had the privilege to work alongside so many passionate people committed to saving children from abuse and exploitation.

Through all the statistics and dark stories, it’s the commitment of those who are diligently following the digital trails, and throwing light on the crime, who are our inspiration to do the work we do and our encouragement as we continue the fight in 2024.

A key aspect to better protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation is to deepen our understanding of the crime, perpetrator tactics and behaviour, and the lived experiences of victim-survivors.

ICMEC Australia is proud to have served as the gold sponsors for the inaugural Child Sexual Abuse Research Reduction Network’s (CSARRN) Workshop held this week in Adelaide. Driven by our mission to facilitate cross-sector collaboration and help build the capacity and capabilities of those within the industry, we are always looking for ways to support our stakeholders to meet their missions and outcomes. 

Sponsoring the inaugural CSARRN workshop provided a valuable opportunity for us to demonstrate our unwavering support for critical Australian research to uncover data-driven insights and evidence-based approaches, aimed at enhancing the protection of children from harm. 

Established in 2023 by a group of dedicated researchers committed to combating child sexual abuse, CSARRN’s inaugural workshop, hosted by the University of Adelaide, brought together key researchers and thought leaders from global institutions and Australia’s world-leading research teams. The event facilitated the sharing of work, the fostering of new collaborations, and the development of unified solutions to better address child sexual abuse.

Featuring informative sessions delving into the complexities of child sexual abuse and exploitation, the workshop covered various aspects of this heinous crime. As a key subject matter expert, our Head of Data Products, Warren Bulmer, was invited to present his research paper on DarkNet Child Exploitation Forums. Other topics discussed at the workshop included offending behaviours, investigative methods, advances in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, harmful sexual behaviours, and prevention initiatives.

With our work streams designed to seamlessly support projects and stakeholders collaboratively, this was an important event for our Head of Capacity and Prevention, Dannielle Kelly, and Head of Impact, Tiphanie Au, who represented the organisation at the workshop. In addition to enjoying the meaningful insights from presenters on a diverse range of research topics, it was a unique opportunity for them to network with a collective of like minded people committed to finding solutions to this crime.

We know that we need to work collaboratively to tackle these issues effectively, and our Capacity & Prevention and Impact streams combine to support the academic research that plays such a critical role in enhancing the protection of children. By forming new connections and having the potential for future partnerships with these academics leading their field, we hope that ground-breaking work of the future will emerge from this event to help the enhanced detection and prevention of CSE.

As the sponsor for the inaugural workshop we were delighted to support this worthwhile initiative, and we extend our gratitude to CSARRN for organising such an insightful event. We look forward to building on the relationships made and we are eagerly looking forward to further collaborating in 2024.

A key aspect to better protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation is to deepen our understanding of the crime, perpetrator tactics and behaviour, and the lived experiences of victim-survivors.

ICMEC Australia is proud to have served as the gold sponsors for the inaugural Child Sexual Abuse Research Reduction Network’s (CSARRN) Workshop held this week in Adelaide. Driven by our mission to facilitate cross-sector collaboration and help build the capacity and capabilities of those within the industry, we are always looking for ways to support our stakeholders to meet their missions and outcomes. 

Sponsoring the inaugural CSARRN workshop provided a valuable opportunity for us to demonstrate our unwavering support for critical Australian research to uncover data-driven insights and evidence-based approaches, aimed at enhancing the protection of children from harm. 

Established in 2023 by a group of dedicated researchers committed to combating child sexual abuse, CSARRN’s inaugural workshop, hosted by the University of Adelaide, brought together key researchers and thought leaders from global institutions and Australia’s world-leading research teams. The event facilitated the sharing of work, the fostering of new collaborations, and the development of unified solutions to better address child sexual abuse.

Featuring informative sessions delving into the complexities of child sexual abuse and exploitation, the workshop covered various aspects of this heinous crime. As a key subject matter expert, our Head of Data Products, Warren Bulmer, was invited to present his research paper on DarkNet Child Exploitation Forums. Other topics discussed at the workshop included offending behaviours, investigative methods, advances in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, harmful sexual behaviours, and prevention initiatives.

With our work streams designed to seamlessly support projects and stakeholders collaboratively, this was an important event for our Head of Capacity and Prevention, Dannielle Kelly, and Head of Impact, Tiphanie Au, who represented the organisation at the workshop. In addition to enjoying the meaningful insights from presenters on a diverse range of research topics, it was a unique opportunity for them to network with a collective of like minded people committed to finding solutions to this crime.

We know that we need to work collaboratively to tackle these issues effectively, and our Capacity & Prevention and Impact streams combine to support the academic research that plays such a critical role in enhancing the protection of children. By forming new connections and having the potential for future partnerships with these academics leading their field, we hope that ground-breaking work of the future will emerge from this event to help the enhanced detection and prevention of CSE.

As the sponsor for the inaugural workshop we were delighted to support this worthwhile initiative, and we extend our gratitude to CSARRN for organising such an insightful event. We look forward to building on the relationships made and we are eagerly looking forward to further collaborating in 2024.

The most important consideration for the detection and prevention of child sexual exploitation (CSE) is the impact of this crime on the victim-survivors. Not just at the time or times it occurs, but well into the future.

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS), released in April 2023, demonstrated the lasting emotional and psychological impacts child sexual abuse can have well into adulthood.
But this is only part of the story.

When a child experiences sexual exploitation, whether physically or online, the effects are wide-ranging and extend into many areas of their lives. Beyond the grievous psycho-social implications that stay with victim-survivors for a lifetime, there are also economic impacts for the child, their families, any future partners and children, and wider society.

By understanding the economic and broader implications of this crime, we can begin to see the true urgency of action needed.

In September we opened applications for Australian academics to submit their interest in conducting new research into the economic consequences and impacts of child sexual exploitation, particularly facilitated online.

With one of the most recent Australian studies into the economic costs of CSE being released in 2016/17, gaining current insight into this issue is well overdue and essential to informing our response as a sector.

We are delighted to announce that Dr Jonah Rimer, Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Convenor of Postgraduate Cyber Criminology at The University of Queensland, will lead the research for Phase One of a joint project with ICMEC Australia.

Dr Rimer is one of Australia’s most renowned academics in the child protection space. His skills and experience in researching the impacts of child sexual exploitation will result in an important piece of work that we hope will create greater awareness of the crime and facilitate broader engagement in a collaborative response.

Phase one of this multi-phase project will inform the future phases of the research.

This initial report will see the research team providing an outline of the different cost categories, components and sectors relevant to the financial impacts of CSE, particularly facilitated online.

“I envisage that this report will be helpful to a number of areas within the child protection sector.”-Dannielle Kelly, Head of Capacity and Prevention at ICMEC Australia.

“We aim to use this research for our own prevention purposes, building frameworks to further prevent exploitation, and determining key areas of focus for both awareness and deterrence measures.”

“And we will also look to share the findings with our key partners and stakeholders within the sector. Their work in advocating for the broad ranging and deep impacts of this crime will be boosted by the data and insights provided.”

Whilst the findings from this research will have benefits for many of those holding perceived traditional roles within the child protection space, the ripples of positive impact will also spread to other organisations and professionals who play a key part in detecting, reporting and preventing CSE facilitated online.

“I believe law enforcement, government, NGOs and our partners in academia will be able to use the findings and methods to better articulate future funding needs, where funding will be best placed, and to lobby government and donors for more spending in this area,” adds Dannielle.

“And our banking partners have already shown an interest in the potential for the research to give a quantitative number for the cost of the crime, allowing them to pitch their case for increased staffing and awareness in the financial crime portfolios.”

Partnering with such a respected institution as The University of Queensland on this project ensures the highest academic resources and access to some of the greatest minds in the space, especially Dr Rimer.

“For an important issue like this one, we need to get out of our silos, and partnerships between academia and leading agencies such as ICMEC Australia are crucial. I feel privileged to be working with ICMEC Australia on this research.”-Dr Jonah Rimer, Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Convenor of Postgraduate Cyber Criminology at The University of Queensland

“Analysing the effects and costs of CSE requires holistic, multifaceted thinking and a comprehensive approach. I hope to bring this to the project so that we can come to better understand the costs and impacts of CSE, including for victim-survivors, families, the justice system, relevant professional and private sectors, and broader society,” says Dr Rimer.

It’s an honour for ICMEC Australia to have the support and partnership of both Dr Rimer and The University of Queensland on Phase One of this much-needed research, kicking off an ongoing vital project that will help shape the broader community response to protecting children from harm.

The research is set to commence in January 2024 and will conclude approximately six months later.
We are looking forward to sharing the research findings with our stakeholders and the wider community later in 2024, ahead of planning for the future phases of the project.

By placing the victim-survivor at the centre of our work and finding as many ways as possible to understand the impacts of this serious crime, we can move closer to being able to prevent it in the first place.

A groundbreaking study confronting more uncomfortable truths surrounding child sexual abuse has just been released, titled Identifying and Understanding Child Sexual Offending Behaviour and Attitudes Among Australian Men. The study was produced by UNSW academics in association with the Australian Human Rights Institute and Jesuit Social Services’ child sexual abuse prevention service, Stop It Now! Australia, with Dr Michael Salter as the lead author. It was conducted online and anonymously between December 2022 and January 2023, and offers unprecedented insights into a dark corner of society that demands our attention.

The findings of this study are nothing short of shocking, revealing the disturbing prevalence of undetected child sexual abuse offending among Australian men. Within the study, approximately 1 in 6 men reported having sexual feelings towards children. A startling 6.7% of Australian men also knowingly viewed child sexual abuse material. Perhaps the most startling revelation though, is that 1 in 10 men stated they had sexually offended against a child, with around half of this group reporting that they experienced sexual feelings for children.

These findings are groundbreaking on a global level, and are particularly shocking because they relate to undetected child sexual abuse. The report further demonstrates what we have known anecdotally for years, that child sexual abuse is a crime of epidemic proportions. It exists in every corner of our communities, perpetrated by those we’d least suspect. This research highlights that Australia is not exempt from this heinous crime, and that it is occurring at a scale previously unknown. It’s a sobering indication that more needs to be done, and that preventing this crime must be a top priority.

The research findings indicate that those most likely to perpetrate this crime exhibit similar characteristics. They are more likely to be married with a higher household income over $150,000, they often work with children, they have generally experienced higher rates of childhood abuse (sexual, physical, and emotional), will often engage in increased alcohol and drug use, they have a preference for encrypted online services and will often own and use cryptocurrency, with a number admitting to consuming deviant and violent pornography, whilst tending to deny the harm caused in the sexual abuse of a child.

The study’s conclusions are both stark and urgent, emphasising the critical need for early intervention services and preventative initiatives. The research points to several areas that could inform primary prevention work, including recognising child maltreatment and violence against women as social determinants of child sexual abuse, improving community attitudes and understanding of the signifiant harm of child sexual abuse, addressing unsafe online services and products, building safety into online romance and dating sites, regulating pornography (especially violent and deviant content), and promoting and maintaining child-safe institutions.

This vital piece of work validates many of the victim-survivor stories that we have so often heard, indicating that many perpetrators have cultivated good social standing within the community, underscoring the need more than ever for a collective effort across stakeholders – policymakers, financial institutions, NGOs, law enforcement, the tech industry, and regulators.

ICMEC Australia is committed to a world where children are free from abuse and exploitation, and facilitating cross-industry collaboration is the cornerstone of bringing this mission to life.

The online world is evolving at a rapid pace, and this transformation extends to payment behaviours. Banking is no longer restricted solely to traditional financial institutions. The entire consumer experience is undergoing a shift as our online presence grows, and the need for conventional payment methods diminishes. However, just like any other technological advancement, this evolution opens the door for illicit activity. Our borderless society means that we exist in a connected ecosystem of rapid innovation, but this also exposes vulnerable individuals to various threats in the online world. 

One significant development in recent times is the rise of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies – such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple – are digital currencies that use cryptography for security. They operate on a technology known as the blockchain, which is a decentralised and distributed digital ledger that records transactions taking place between computers without a typical central authority like a financial institution. Each translation on the blockchain is secured by cryptographic hashes, and linked to the previous transaction, to create a chain of blocks – hence, the “blockchain”. 

The innate characteristics of cryptocurrencies, decentralisation and advanced encryption, a perceived sense of anonymity, automation, and speed that payments can be made, make these payment types attractive to perpetrators of child sexual exploitation facilitated online. This adds yet another layer to the difficulties in detecting and eliminating technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation – especially for financial institutions and law enforcement. 

For financial institutions, the rise in prominence of cryptocurrencies poses some significant difficulties. Traditional methods of detection and reporting differ when it comes to the blockchain. The anonymity provided by these digital currencies compounds the necessity for effective strategies for detecting, reporting, and preventing this abhorrent crime. 

But, cryptocurrency is not completely anonymous or untraceable. Research is already showing us that this payment form is being used by offenders of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The Internet Watch Foundation reported that the number of child sexual abuse websites accepting cryptocurrency as payment for illicit material had more than doubled from 2021 to 2022 – with over 1,000 sites of the 250,000 identified accepting digital payments. And despite perpetrators of child sexual exploitation opting to use Blockchain to elude detection, law enforcement agencies all over the globe are finding ways to locate them. The ‘Welcome to Video’ case is a clear example of this and saw law enforcement in the United States take down a large child abuse site by ‘following the money’, as with any financial crime – except ‘the money’ was on the blockchain.

As a response community, the development of new technologies means that compliance and monitoring mechanisms must be updated to maintain pace with technological developments. We need to consider the integration of blockchain analysis tools, and enhance our understanding of offender behaviour and indicators of suspicious transactions to create a holistic response to this crime. Collaboration between financial institutions, technology experts, and regulatory authorities are crucial to developing an enhanced response to online child sexual exploitation. 

There is also a growing need for international cooperation when it comes to regulation and responding to this crime, particularly when considering how cryptocurrencies work. The borderless nature of both technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and the blockchain, enables payments to be made from one country for the abuse of a child in another. Financial institutions play a pivotal role in supporting the efforts to combat this crime. And by maintaining best practice methods and investing in cutting-edge technology to ultimately stay ahead of the offenders of this heinous crime, we can protect more children from harm. 

Already, navigating a comprehensive response to child sexual exploitation that prioritises the safety of children above all else is challenging. But with the increase in prominence of cryptocurrencies, the ways that the response community ‘follows the money’ may become increasingly difficult. By keeping up with the changes in this area, and understanding the complexities of this technology, we can better equip ourselves to protect children from abuse and exploitation.

Enhancing our understanding in this area is critical. Luke McGoldrick of Chainalysis will present an informative analysis of the intersection of cryptocurrencies and child sexual exploitation at our upcoming Monthly Brown Bag on Tuesday 28 November at 12:30pm. This is the final Monthly Brown Bag of 2023 and an essential topic for those who are fighting against this crime. To make sure you don’t miss out on this topical discussion, register here.

When it comes to keeping children safe, it’s essential we pool our resources and capabilities to deliver our most robust response. In late October we hosted our inaugural Financial Symposium, which shone a light on the critical need for collaboration in the battle against child sexual abuse and exploitation. With nearly 100 key stakeholders joining together from various sectors of financial institutions, including financial crime, corporate affairs, and social impact teams, the event illuminated the pressing need for united action in protecting children.  

The Symposium featured expert speakers who delved into emerging trends in child exploitation crimes. They provided invaluable insights for financial institutions, outlining practical measures to implement protocols and risk mitigation in their organisations. The event underscored the complexity of fighting against child sexual exploitation and abuse, emphasising that this daunting task transcends industry boundaries and permeates all aspects of our community.

We have the right people here today to fill us with hope… and to help build a safer world for children through our already world-leading financial and payments services in Australia.– Anna Bowden (CEO, ICMEC Australia)

Eliminating child sexual exploitation and abuse from our society, and keeping children safe, is a mammoth task. And this work extends beyond one industry. It has touch points across our whole society, requiring the facilitation of collaboration and information sharing to help key industry professionals protect children, a role that is central to our work at ICMEC Australia. This is especially true when it comes to following the online financial footprint of this crime. The regulatory obligations for financial institutions with respect to this crime are extensive. And for smaller financial institutions, it can be difficult to effectively apply their limited resources to best protect children at the same time as meeting reporting requirements. 

The Symposium provided a platform for professionals from diverse backgrounds across Australia to engage in important discussions. Witnessing this collaborative effort was a stark reminder that the fight against child sexual abuse cannot be won by a single entity alone, and we were inspired by the positive feedback and proud of the essential conversations taking place on the day. 

Operating under the Chatham House Rule, the event facilitated candid discussions among changemakers within the financial sector. All the presentations and panels emphasised a fundamental truth: children deserve the highest level of protection, and combating this heinous crime demands a robust collaborative response.

Throughout the day, we were confronted with the harsh realities of technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation, a topic often omitted from public discourse. The Symposium highlighted that behind every suspicious matter report, every image, and every video, there exists a real child whose life has been irrevocably altered. The responsibility to protect these vulnerable children rests on society as a whole, emphasising the urgency for unwavering commitment to this cause.

As a relatively new organisation with a small team of experts, we are acutely aware that we cannot do this work without the support of a considerable number of passionate and committed individuals. We are grateful for the efforts of many who lean into this work, and the Symposium was the perfect opportunity to launch our Illuminate Program. Aptly named because this is a crime that thrives in the dark, the program will serve to recognise those who go above and beyond to help shine a light and protect children from harm.

We launched the program by honouring our first ICMEC Australia Ally, Jeremy Moller, Senior Advisor and Lawyer (Special Counsel), Risk Advisory at Norton Rose Fulbright. Jeremy has contributed many hours in an advisory capacity and has been a key supporter of our journey for almost five years. Instrumental in the establishment of the ICMEC Australia office, Jeremy has been a constant advocate and contributor to our work since. The Financial Symposium would not have been the success it was without his considerable input. We thank Jeremy for his tireless efforts and for graciously accepting this inaugural position, which will see him continue to support our work into the future.

Our inaugural Financial Symposium ultimately served as a beacon of hope, uniting stakeholders in a collective pledge to prioritise a strong response to this crime and create a safer future for all children, everywhere. This inspiring day illuminated the complex path forward, one paved with collaboration, awareness, innovation and an unyielding dedication to the protection of our children.