App To Block Child Abuse Images
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Hello Forum Users,
You may have seen in the media that The Lucy Faithfull Foundation is currently involved in an exciting new project that is looking to reduce online viewing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), through the development of a new app. The projects app, called Salus, is due to enter its development stages and will be tested by volunteers who have sought help because they are interested in viewing CSAM, and want to ensure that they don’t.
The Lucy Faithfull Foundation is assisting in the development of the app, which can be installed on personal devices, such as mobile phones, and will work by identifying and blocking CSAM before users are able to view it. When eventually released, this will be an exciting breakthrough in the child protection field. This could be something that many of our forum users will find helpful in assisting their loved one’s rehabilitation in the future. It is thought that this will be released in early 2024, so keep an eye out for further developments.
If you would like to learn more about this, please follow these links for more information:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-64718850
https://www.iwf.org.uk/news-media/news/new-eu-funded-safety-tech-will-help-reduce-viewing-and-demand-for-child-sexual-abuse-images-and-videos/
If you would like any more information on ways to help keep your loved ones safe online, or you would like any additional support then please contact the Stop It Now! helpline on 0808 1000 900, where our team of advisors will be able to help you.
The Forum Team
You may have seen in the media that The Lucy Faithfull Foundation is currently involved in an exciting new project that is looking to reduce online viewing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), through the development of a new app. The projects app, called Salus, is due to enter its development stages and will be tested by volunteers who have sought help because they are interested in viewing CSAM, and want to ensure that they don’t.
The Lucy Faithfull Foundation is assisting in the development of the app, which can be installed on personal devices, such as mobile phones, and will work by identifying and blocking CSAM before users are able to view it. When eventually released, this will be an exciting breakthrough in the child protection field. This could be something that many of our forum users will find helpful in assisting their loved one’s rehabilitation in the future. It is thought that this will be released in early 2024, so keep an eye out for further developments.
If you would like to learn more about this, please follow these links for more information:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-64718850
https://www.iwf.org.uk/news-media/news/new-eu-funded-safety-tech-will-help-reduce-viewing-and-demand-for-child-sexual-abuse-images-and-videos/
If you would like any more information on ways to help keep your loved ones safe online, or you would like any additional support then please contact the Stop It Now! helpline on 0808 1000 900, where our team of advisors will be able to help you.
The Forum Team
LFF very interesting, How does this app work, why is something like it not compulsory installed on all mobile phones as sold, and why is something like it not used by all ISPs?
Hello Bitterbean
That is a really good question you have raised. Due to the app only just entering its development phase, unfortunately, we are unable to provide clarity for your question. Please do keep an eye out for further updates as time goes on with more details.
Kind Regards
The Forum Team
That is a really good question you have raised. Due to the app only just entering its development phase, unfortunately, we are unable to provide clarity for your question. Please do keep an eye out for further updates as time goes on with more details.
Kind Regards
The Forum Team
Sounds a step in the right direction. Good news and fingers crossed.
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Daffodil, My thoughts exactly
To be fair it's still being developed and trialled to see how well it works, but it's frustrating that it's not being at least partially funded by big tech, or perhaps they could send some of their brains to help with the development?
To be fair it's still being developed and trialled to see how well it works, but it's frustrating that it's not being at least partially funded by big tech, or perhaps they could send some of their brains to help with the development?
This is a great step forward. I'd question whether people that haven't been convicted would choose to use it though because the apps downloaded to are often linked to an email address. But if it proves it can be done, then hopefully it'll put pressure on tech companies to use it.
This is definitely a positive step forward to protect all potential viewers of illegal material and I totally agree this should already be installed on new devices by tech companies. When my husband was convicted I looked for any blocking software to install to protect any accidental "hits" as I was terrified of going through this whole process again. There are of course parental controls on devices which may or may not work for some and there are similar apps to protect people against gambling addictions which have to be downloaded but once installed and settings secured these Apps can neither be uninstalled or bypassed. I have spoken to my therapist about this when we were discussing about easy access to the internet and she informed me of these gambling Apps. After going through what we have and are still going through as a result of internet access I would certainly be advocating the use of this app to anyone I know to prevent primarily exploitation of children and the trauma of living through this nightmare. If the government IT bots can perform a "national warning alert" then why can't they be proactive in preventing viewing of such material mandatory?
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Is the plan to have this available for police to use? My partner has monitoring software as part of his SHPO, installed by the police. But all it does is flag up if he searches or finds iioc or questionable content- it can't prevent him accessing. The app is also buggy, i.e. it has to restarted after phone updates and I think he has told me it switches itself off in power save mode....