Safe Online

We’re proud to be joined by over 15 expert organisations to host the Satellite Event #Act4OnlineSafety for children in Bogotá, Colombia! Join us for this historic opportunity. ?? Nov 6, 11 am COT ??? https://lnkd.in/eWCrv_SP Brave Movement WeProtect Global Alliance 5Rights ChildFund International Childlight - Global Child Safety Institute ECPAT International GSMA International Justice Mission INHOPE Marie Collins Foundation Plan International Restless Development Tech Coalition? International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) ECPAT International

?? Calling all data enthusiasts and change-makers! Join us as we tackle online #CSEA data challenges together and shape the future of data-driven advocacy. Apply for an opportunity to attend now! ???Nov 26, 7 - 11 AM EST | 1 - 5 PM CET ??Apply here: https://lnkd.in/e7viUr55 #Data4Change #SafeOnline

??Exciting Updates Ahead! The Tech Coalition Safe Research Fund is stepping into its 4th year with a sharp focus: Generative AI and its impact on online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA). Over the past 3 years, we’ve built strong bridges between researchers and the tech industry. Now, we’re taking collaboration further by bringing together key stakeholders - law enforcement, child safety advocates, academia, and tech companies - to address the challenges posed by generative AI. This initiative underscores the power of collaboration. Together, we are committed to keeping children safe from digital harm!?

???? ?? Today, we hosted our third multi-stakeholder briefing on generative AI and its impacts on online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA), this time in Brussels. The event brought together European institutions, regulators, law enforcement, child safety advocates, and Tech Coalition industry members to discuss robust safety-by-design measures, shared challenges, and opportunities for deeper collaboration. As part of this ongoing dialogue, we announced new research projects selected for award through the Tech Coalition Safe Online Research Fund. These projects, led by the University of Kent, Western Sydney University, and Safernet Brasil, will tackle diverse aspects of this critical issue—from young people’s engagement with AI to the misuse of generative AI for creating and distributing CSAM. ?? Learn more about the outcomes of today’s briefing and the newly announced research projects in our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/e8AMRRzS Thank you to all who participated and shared their expertise, and a special thanks to Microsoft for hosting us at their Brussels office. Together, we’re making strides toward a safer digital future for children. ?? #GenerativeAI #ChildSafety #TechCoalition

Can technology protect or endanger children? Join us for a powerful X Space conversation on Nov. 25, 9am EST to explore how social media can impact child safety online. Let’s tackle the threats and amplify the opportunities! #BeBrave #OnlineSafety

Read the Open Letter "A historic opportunity to protect children from digital harms" by #SafeOnline Fund, BraveGlobal, and We Protect. Learn why the Global Ministerial Conference in Bogotá is a crucial moment for child safety online. Full piece here: https://bit.ly/4e3lsgv #Act4OnlineSafety #SafeOnline

Did you know? Over 36 million reports of online child sexual abuse materials were received in 2023. It's time to act. Join the movement to build a safer digital world for children. Missed the #Act4OnlineSafety event? Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/efF6mtjQ Brave Movement WeProtect Global Alliance

Stand Up for Boys! Ending Sexual Violence, No One Should Be Left Behind! Join the webinar to learn about #BlueUmbrellaDay ?Global campaign insights ?Experiences from Colombia, Zimbabwe & Pakistan ?New UN signature campaign Nov 19, 13:00 UTC https://bit.ly/3AALPNr

Returning from Bogotá I’m still reflecting on the power and promise of what was truly a historic gathering - a first ever Global Ministerial Conference?where the world leaders, ministers, advocates, children, young people, and survivors gathered with one unified goal: to end all forms of violence against children, including in the digital spaces where they spend so much of their lives. I am also deeply moved by the powerful discussions and incredible momentum generated at our Satellite Event, “Safe Digital Futures for Children: Tackling Online Harms through Joint Global Action.” co-hosted by Safe Online, Brave Movement and WeProtect Global Alliance. The event was centered around a critical reality: for children, digital and physical worlds are seamlessly connected. From cyberbullying to online sexual abuse and exploitation, digital risks are among the most urgent and damaging threats they face, requiring global collaboration and sustained investment to build a safe, empowering digital world for every child. We cannot end violence against children without grounding ourselves in this reality. To the policymakers, civil society, young advocates, survivors, parents who shared their experiences and expertise, industry leaders—THANK YOU. You reminded us that the fight for online safety is both urgent and possible. Vanessa Bautista, Daphne, Rhiannon-Faye McDonald, Amy Neville, Marie Mokuba, Isabelle S., Kate Hampton, Alicia Herbert (OBE), Mattito Watson, Sean Litton, Julie Cordua, Maria-Cristina Capelo, Daniel Kardefelt-Winther and many others Grateful to the governments of Brazil, Ecuador, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Moldova, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Uganda, UK and USA for sharing their progress & commitments to tackling online harms. Thank you Daniela Ligiero (she/her) and Iain Drennan for the friendship... and to the amazing Emily Laurie, Danielle Lilly, Britta Holmberg for your incredible support. I’m immensely grateful to the 15+ expert organizations that supported this event. A special thanks to the Governments of Colombia and Sweden, as well as UNICEF, WHO, and UN SRSG VAC, Najat Maalla M’jid, for their leadership on the Ministerial. Camilla Waltersson Gr?nvall, UNICEF DED Omar Abdi, Karolina Schlyter, Etienne Krug, Sabine Rakotomalala, Helen Morton, Cassia Carvalho, Sheema Sen Gupta, Afrooz Kaviani Johnson, Benjamin Perks, Pablo Espiniella Final and most important thanks goes to our Serena Tommasino for truly being the mastermind and the driving force behind this event... together with the rest of the Safe Online team - Natalie Shoup, Tahseen Alam, Miguel Garcia Egido, Iryna Gudyma, Jessica Zimerman, Manveen Kohli, Caroline Makumbe, Stephanie Pinilla, Sandra Daniels-Harte, Nasiba Shamsutdinova, Neira A. Budiono, Recadina Webi... you all are the best!!

? Today our new publication is out and available: "Content moderator coping strategies: associations with psychological distress, secondary trauma and wellbeing" by Dr Ruth Spence, Prof Elena Martellozzo, PhD and Dr Jeffrey DeMarco (2024) in the ??Journal of Media Psychology: Theories, Methods, and Applications. ??? Content moderation is the backbone of our and our children’s safety online, yet the risk and cost are often invisible. Content moderators (CMs) apply the #policy set by platforms to protect users from harmful content. It is a stressful job, associated with reduced mental health and #wellbeing. In this study, an anonymous survey was used to demonstrate most CMs cope by seeking support from colleagues?? and this is associated with lower psychological distress and secondary trauma and higher wellbeing whereas increased smoking and alcohol consumption is associated with increased symptomology. Our research project #InvisibleRisk funded by Safe Online and the Tech Coalition with partners such as INHOPE, reveals exactly these costs. Moderators who are exposed on a daily basis to Child Sexual Abuse Material (#CSAM) face #mentalhealth?? consequences, such as #PTSD, anxiety, and depression, with most of them reporting trauma-related symptoms. However, only a small percentage feel they receive adequate psychological support. Expected to reach quotas, moderators can be required to view distressing images and videos whilst having to achieve accuracy and speed targets??. Additionally, they can have low wages, a lack of mental health support and be required to maintain confidentiality which can cause high levels of distress. ?? #InvisibleRisk highlights the urgent need for change; moderators require trauma-informed care and mental health resources to protect those who protect our online communities. Please follow us for more academic news and insights! Thank you ???? https://lnkd.in/e9HCbGjC Middlesex University Trust and Safety Jobs Trust & Safety Professional Association Trust & Safety Forum Trust and Safety Foundation INHOPE