LIBRA to get objective global insights in CSAM distribution

The trauma of those who have fallen victim to online sexual abuse and/or exploitation, continues with the ongoing spread of the material. The first LIBRA results have brought to light what is happening behind the scenes through objective real-time insights from different angles.
EFRO Funding
SNN Funding
This project is funded by the European Union's European Fund for Regional Development (EFRO).

LIBRA

The LIBRA plan is developed with the main goal of providing objective, real-time insight into the distribution of CSAM on the public internet. A Proof of Concept (PoC) was executed in 2021 in collaboration with Dutch hotline EOKM (Expertisecentrum Online Kindermisbruik) and the Swedish children’s rights organisation World Childhood Foundation.

A unique technique is developed to detect CSAM without downloading or saving the image and without facilitating improper distribution. This is groundbreaking, because it allows for objective insights which can be used to detect and remove CSAM from the internet at an early stage. This way, authorities can also gain immediate insight into the severity of the spread of CSAM in their country. At the same time, victims can be identified sooner, and repeated victimization can be prevented because massive amounts of material can be removed using the automated processes that are already in place.

The tool uses the Remote Analysis technique, which means that hashing of the images takes place remotely - outside the LIBRA server. Only the result of this analysis is sent to LIBRA's server. These scans are thus performed without viewing or storing potentially criminal material. Analysis is done remotely using a serverless function, thereby ensuring that the use of LIBRA's technology falls within the legal frameworks such as the GDPR.

In the first results we gained view of - until recently - unknown hotspots containing a lot of material and tens of thousands of new images and victims (mainly boys) have been detected and automatically removed from the internet.
Over the next two years, Web-IQ and its partners aim to improve the concept and then transfer it to the authorities.

Partners

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