Key Takeaways

• CSAM stands for Child Sexual Abuse Material. This material is generally images or videos that portray real children being sexually abused. This is a serious crime in the eyes of national, and international law.
• “Child pornography”, is different from “CSAM”. CSAM is more accurate and has been adopted by experts, courts, and groups like the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to describe child victimization.
• Hash-based detection and PhotoDNA are tools that exist to help locate and remove CSAM from the internet. They work by comparing the digital fingerprints of illegal images to catch offenders more quickly.
• New technology in phones and the addition of AI have made generating and sharing CSAM content much easier. This is causing online communities big problems, and also makes it more difficult for platforms to detect harmful content fast.
• Growing public awareness and education, as well as enforcing reporting rules, and cooperation between law enforcement can support the fight against CSAM. NCMEC programs and the Internet Watch Foundation lift up survivors and also urge tech companies to act against these crimes.

What is CSAM?

The term Child Sexual Abuse Material refers to explicit content showing real children engaging in sexual acts. Calling it "child pornography," is not accurate, and is often used incorrectly since this term may also include computer-generated images or AI-generated content.

Definition of Child Sexual Abuse Material

Child Sexual Abuse Material includes any explicit content that portrays the sexual exploitation or abuse of minors. Groups such as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and law enforcement use this legal term to describe any visual depiction of explicit images, videos, or digital files that were created for sexual purposes. Courts also use the legal definition of “sexual abuse imagery”.

CSAM goes far beyond what many refer to as "child pornography." Experts consider this an outdated term since it overlooks the child victimization aspect. The term CSAM more accurately represents the abusive and criminal nature of this content, and encourages better advocacy for survivors of child abuse.

Content descibed as CSAM shows real children engaging in sexually explicit conduct or sexual acts. Additionally, if AI-generated images look real enough to confuse viewers into thinking actual children were abused, this content is also considered CSAM.

According to local laws, virtual CSAM content without physical contact is still considered to be illegal if it displays the sexual abuse of children. Offenders have been found to keep indecent images on their cell phones and share digital files with sexual conduct on social media platforms, gaming platforms, and other online services.

Research conducted by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection states that every image of online child exploitation is considered evidence of child sex abuse, creating severe harm to child victims. This applies even if the child never met this offender in person.

Technology companies and nonprofit organizations alike are under strict guidelines to report any CSAM cases directly. This allows law enforcement personnel to act quickly against possible human trafficking or child sex trafficking cases.

How CSAM Impacts Online Communities

CSAM content seriously threatens the safety of communities online. As these platforms adjust to moderate harmful content and protect their users from exploitation, it creates additional challenges.

Threats to safety and well-being

The most vulnerable individuals become subject to Child Sexual Abuse Material inside of online communities. Offenders use smartphones to create and distribute indecent images of children, exposing minors to sexual exploitation material and explicit imagery.

This spread of AI-generated CSAM and digital child abuse images makes every young person at risk. Social media platforms have now become a portal for child trafficking, as well as a place sex offenders communicate and share illegal sexual content.

Even worse, child victims often experience lasting harm from CSAM. One photo or video can be distibuted thousands of times before getting flagged by detection tools such as PhotoDNA. Perpetrators may even attempt to obtain phone numbers or other personal data by using fake profiles or third-party apps.

Challenges for content moderation and detection

The path to effective content moderation and detection is currently up against significant challenges. Online platforms are having difficulty identifying child sexual images quickly and easily.

PhotoDNA detection is helpful to some extent, but it has limitations. This method relies on past knowledge of flagged CSAM. This makes new CSAM images hard to catch. Detection systems also require regular updates to stay up to date with the sheer number of tactics used by offenders.

Technology and Efforts to Combat CSAM

Technology plays a vital role in fighting CSAM and protecting children. Tools like PhotoDNA and hash-based detection help identify and remove harmful content quickly.

PhotoDNA tools and hash-based detection

Child Sexual Abuse Material is a serious problem. It threatens the safety of children and online communities. However, there are a number of tools that are working to help combat these internet crimes against children.

1. PhotoDNA identifies CSAM using unique hash values. It then creates a digital fingerprint for explicit images and videos, allowing for quick detection.
2. Similarly, Hash-based detection systems create hash values of sexual content. It is then able to quickly compare images against new CSAM uploads.
3. Law enforcement agencies use these systems to help track and prosecute offenders who are spreading CSAM through digital devices like mobile phones.
4. Many online platforms and electronic service providers have now incorporated this detection technology into their moderation systems. Quick content removal is best practice for creating safer online platforms.
5. Collaboration between tech companies and local law enforcement significantly improves the fight against CSAM content. Having a combined database of CSAM material helps to identify new content across different platforms more easily.
6. Artificial Intelligence is helpful in detecting CSAM more accurately than just humans. Since AI models are able to learn from patterns, this improves its ability to locate previously unidentified CSAM content.
7. Public awareness and effective education still play a major part in battling CSAM effectively within online communities today.

Spread Awareness About CSAM

CSAM is more than just explicit photos and videos. It creates a serious risk within online communities, and exploits the abuse of children. We can begin to combat this through awareness and education, as well as detection tools like PhotoDNA that can identify and remove CSAM effectively.

A Courageous Voice is spreading awareness throughout Michigan, working to protect child safety. You can learn more about our mission to protect children from abuse and get involved by donating $5 to help a child become a part of our Kids Voices Matter program. This education is critical to creating awareness in both kids and parents, and continuing the fight against CSAM and child trafficking in Detroit and beyond.

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