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February 11 is Safer Internet Day.
In Australia, the eSafety Commissioner leads this important day, encouraging all of us to help make the internet a safer and more positive place.
At ICMEC Australia, we prioritise creating a safer digital environment by addressing the harmful impacts of online child sexual exploitation (CSE). Our dedicated focus is on fostering an online space that promotes positive outcomes, supports the development of a civil society, and places child protection at its core.
We all have a role to play in fostering a safer, more inclusive internet.
Here are five ways you can contribute:
1. Have conversations about online safety
2. Learn about online risks
3. Report harmful content
4. Practice respect and kindness online
5. Share online safety resources
You can view more resources here and learn more about how ICMEC Australia works towards a world where online technology can’t be used to harm children here.
Let's prioritise online safety every day and work together to build a safer digital future.
Hear from our CEO, Colm Gannon
In 2024, ICMEC Australia held two key industry events that underscored what we stand for: fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and inspiring action. Together, we are making meaningful strides toward creating a world where no child can be exploited. You can learn more about the importance of these events through the highlights below.
At our Symposium in October 2024, leaders from financial services, telecommunications, law enforcement, and government came together to tackle the ever-evolving challenges of child sexual exploitation (CSE). The event fostered open dialogue and encouraged bold, innovative solutions, with discussions focusing on strengthening cross-sector collaboration, leveraging technology and data to combat exploitation, and ensuring leadership and accountability to sustain impactful public-private initiatives.
The SaferAI for Children Summit at KPMG in October 2024, explored AI’s dual role as both a risk and a tool in child protection. Voices from government, academia, law enforcement, and the tech sector highlighted the dangers of AI misuse and its potential to transform how we prevent and address harm. The insights shared will guide our efforts to ensure technology is a force for good.
To stay updated on our upcoming events, visit our event page for the latest information.
Protecting children in the digital age has never been more crucial. The rapid advancements in Generative AI bring the promise of significant societal benefits, yet also present new risks. Developed in collaboration by the SaferAI for Children Coalition - a group of child protection organisations, academic experts, law enforcement agencies, and other public sector partners - this paper offers a comprehensive exploration of both the opportunities and challenges AI presents for child safety, and what this looks like in an Australian context.
We examine the ways AI-enabled tools can be misused for child sexual exploitation, but also highlight how AI can be a powerful force for good - detecting harmful content, aiding in investigations, and protecting vulnerable children. This discussion paper is a call to action and a guide, advocating for responsible use of AI to protect children and ensure that technology enhances rather than threatens their safety.
Download the SaferAI for Children coalition's, inaugural discussion paper to learn more about how we can collaborate to leverage AI's potential for a safer digital environment for all children.
To learn more about the work ICMEC Australia do, visit our research page.
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.
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 :
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.”
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.
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.
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.
