Stock-taking on AI's Role in Combating Child Sexual Abuse: Explore the current state and potential of AI in preventing child sexual abuse, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of achievements and challenges in integrating AI solutions for child protection. 

Fostering Networking for Collaborative Innovation: Encourage the formation of new partnerships and the strengthening of existing collaborations across disciplines, fostering the development of innovative AI strategies in the fight against child sexual abuse. 

Mobilizing Action and Implementation: Focus on actionable outcomes, urging participants to apply AI technologies and insights gained from the conference to initiate real-world interventions aimed at safeguarding children.

Conference Program (tentative) 

Overview: The conference will encompass a series of plenary sessions and parallel sessions, including panel discussions and workshops.  

Permeating themes:  

Ending child sexual abuse: The current status of prevalence, trends, solutions, global efforts and urgent gaps. 

Ethical complexities: Navigating through AI advancements, privacy concerns, integrity challenges, regulatory frameworks, and the alignment problem.  

Data: Discover how targeted data collection and data sharing can drive AI development towards preventing child sexual abuse.  

 
Preliminary Topics: 

Cybersecurity and Child Safety: Delving into the intersection of child sexual abuse and cybersecurity, this theme will discuss the implications for digital safety and the protective measures that can be enforced.  

The Corporate Sector's Involvement: We invite representatives from the broad spectrum of the corporate world to explore their roles in creating a society where child sexual abuse is prevented through AI, policy, and collaboration.  

Collaborative Research Initiatives: Highlighting the importance of joint research ventures, this theme will showcase collaborative efforts where AI can be instrumental in addressing child sexual abuse.  

The Challenge of AI-Generated Abuse Material: Addressing the emerging issue of child sexual abuse material generated with the help of AI, this session will discuss detection, prevention, and associated legal challenges.  

Financial Traces of Abuse – A Follow the Money Approach: An examination of the financial underpinnings and transactions that facilitate child sexual abuse, focusing on how AI can aid in tracing and disrupting harmful financial flows. 

Navigating the Darknet with AI: An insight into the development and application of AI algorithms for effectively navigating darknet forums which focused on child sexual abuse and were taken down by law enforcement.  

Each topic has been selected to ensure an overview of various aspects where AI intersects with the efforts to combat child sexual abuse. Through this multidimensional approach, the conference seeks not only to shed light on current challenges and advancements but also to pave the way for future breakthroughs in this field. 

We are committed to fostering an environment that encourages proactive dialogue, collaborative problem-solving, and actionable outcomes in our collective mission to safeguard children in the digital age. 

Participants 

Recognizing that the battle against child sexual abuse is a societal challenge which requires the collective effort of diverse stakeholders, we aim to bring together a broad spectrum of professionals, hoping to bridge the gap between various sectors.  

The conference will appeal to: 

Corporate Sector Representatives: Professionals from both tech firms and other industries, whose corporate social responsibility can influence development and decisions. 

Artificial Intelligence Professionals: Experts in AI and machine learning who can provide insights into how technology can be used to detect and prevent abuse. 

Child Protection Experts: Representatives from authorities and non-governmental organizations dedicated to child welfare and the prevention of abuse, including within the field of social work and education. 

Policymakers and Government Officials: Individuals involved in creating and implementing laws and policies related to child protection.  

Healthcare Providers: Healthcare experts who can offer medical and psychological perspectives on detecting and preventing abuse. 

Law Enforcement and Legal Professionals: Police officers and prosecutors who are directly involved in investigating cases of child sexual abuse and prosecuting offenders. 

Researchers and Academics: Scholars within both AI and social sciences and humanities, who are interested in using AI to address the causes, effects, and prevention strategies related to child sexual abuse. 

Media and Communication Experts: Professionals who can help raise awareness and educate the public on the issue through various media outlets. 

Background

Child sexual abuse is a global issue that has devastating consequences for its victims. The prevalence of child sexual abuse is alarmingly high, with an estimated one in four girls and one in six boys experiencing some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18. The detection and prevention of child sexual abuse is a complex and challenging task that requires the cooperation of multiple agencies and stakeholders. 

In recent years, the field of artificial intelligence (AI) has seen explosive development, significantly impacting various sectors. This surge in AI innovation has created a global momentum that inspires hope for solving complex problems, yet it also stirs fears over potential misuse and ethical implications. One crucial area where the link to AI is rarely highlighted is in combating child sexual abuse. In order to harness the advancements in artificial intelligence to develop more effective strategies for detecting and preventing child sexual abuse, Childhood is organizing a conference on June 17th to bring together representatives from business and academia, law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies and child protection organisations. The conference will highlight research, commitments and tools developed in ongoing collaborations and initiatives. Discussions will cover a range of AI technologies and applications while also addressing the urgent need to intensify cross-sectorial dialogue and accelerate action. The ambition is to gather stakeholder groups that usually do not meet; both those already working specifically on AI or prevention of child sexual abuse, and those working in other areas who can learn more and contribute to this societal challenge. The event will provide a neutral space where participants challenge and inspire each other, forge new collaborations and learn from each other. Our aim is to contribute to an increase of actors and resources focused on fighting child sexual abuse.