UK Safer Internet Centre

Together the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), Childnet International and SWGfL make up the UK Safer Internet Centre. This unique, leading global partnership seeks to make technology and the internet a safer place, by providing support to children, young people and adults. Learn more from our website ⬇ https://lnkd.in/eWyhHcp3

Yesterday the Rt Hon Caroline Nokes addressed the UK Parliament regarding Amendment 160 of the Criminal Justice Bill, a crucial step towards preventing non-consensual intimate image abuse. Supported by members of the Women and Equalities Committee, the amendment seeks to address critical gaps in existing legislation, particularly within the framework of the #OnlineSafetyAct.   In her address, Caroline highlighted the profound impact that deepfake technology has had on ordinary individuals, underscoring the disparity in addressing such abuse between celebrities and the everyday public. Despite efforts by the government to tackle these issues, challenges persist in platforms swiftly removing harmful content.   The amendment aims to rectify these disparities by elevating non-consensual intimate imagery to be deemed illegal content under the Online Safety Act. By imposing obligations on platforms to remove such content and requiring internet service providers to block access, the amendment seeks to provide much-needed protection for victims.   Crucially, Caroline emphasised the need to broaden the scope of legislative action beyond sexual explicitness, recognising that cultural nuances and societal norms play a significant role in how we should define ‘intimacy’. Encompassing all forms of intimate imagery, the amendment strives for inclusivity and effectiveness in addressing abuse.   Through compelling anecdotes, including the harrowing experiences of high-profile cases such as Georgia Harrison and the hundreds of other victims who have successfully seen their perpetrator found guilty at trial, Caroline underscored the urgency of this legislative change. Despite significant criminal convictions, perpetrators continue to exploit legal loopholes, perpetuating the ongoing trauma for victims. Our own Revenge Porn Helpline currently has 30,000 URLS that we have reported but are powerless to prevent access to because of this legal loophole.    We applaud Caroline Nokes for representing victims and so powerfully articulating the issue and impact that requires legislative action. By prioritizing the protection and rights of victims, Parliament has a unique opportunity to enact meaningful change. https://lnkd.in/ewPYJ-76

As part of the UK Safer Internet Centre, SWGfL are running the next Online Safety Clinic on the 15th May. In light of the recent sextortion alert from the National Crime Agency and to coincide with findings from the Revenge Porn Helpline, which saw an increase in sextortion cases, this session will explore the issue to improve understanding. Educators, governors, safeguarding leads and parents can attend to gain expert guidance which will also focus on prevention. Learn more about the session from Eventbrite ⬇ https://lnkd.in/gEsYmykC #onlinesafety #sextortion #IIA #support

Safer Internet Day 2024 reaches over half of young people in the UK – Impact report shows Safer Internet Day 2024 reached more young people than ever before, with 53% of UK children aged 8-17 hearing about the day, alongside 32% of UK parents and carers. Our impact report looks at the reach of Safer Internet Day 2024 and the positive impact that it had on children, young people, parents, carers, and teachers.

This week marked the launch of the 2023 Revenge Porn Helpline report which demonstrated findings, #impact and changes that need to be made to further support those affected by intimate image abuse. The report highlighted the following: 🔍Women have approximately 28 times more images shared without their consent compared to men. 📞Reports to the Helpline doubled last year, which contributed to a 106% increase in cases. 📌Sextortion made up over a third of reports, with this figure highlighting how women and men are affected differently by intimate image abuse. The report also found that 10% of reported intimate image abuse content remains publicly accessible and legally available to view online. To coincide with this, the Revenge Porn Helpline and partners SWGfL launched the #NotYoursToView campaign to stop all non-consensually shared intimate content from being viewed 👉 https://lnkd.in/ecYzTJrG Learn more about the report and all findings, from our latest blog ⬇ https://lnkd.in/eKAcKP9x #research #impact #support

Last week, the National Crime Agency (NCA) issued an alert to educational establishments across the UK about the rise in financially motivated sexual extortion or 'sextortion' cases. Find out what the alert included and what support is available. Check the UK Safer Internet Centre's advice page for guidance and resources: https://lnkd.in/d-P7D2D3.

As part of the UK Safer Internet Centre, partners SWGfL are running their next Online Safety Clinic which will explore sextortion, following recent research from the Revenge Porn Helpline which saw a significant increase in cases. The session will improve understanding of the issue and provide expert guidance around prevention. Safeguarding leads, parents and educators can find out more from Eventbrite 👇 https://lnkd.in/eTUwXUaa #safeguarding #sextortion #guidance

Partners SWGfL have launched ProjectEVOLVE EDU, here to improve understanding of online safety and digital literacy. The platform, which is an extension of the popular #ProjectEVOLVE toolkit can be accessed by educators to meet vital training needs. Featuring videos, resources, quizzes, knowledge maps and accreditation, ProjectEVOLVE EDU is here to equip teachers with the knowledge they need to support their students. Learn more from our blog 👇 https://lnkd.in/exbQwpiJ #onlinesafety #training #educators

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has issued an alert to educational establishments across the UK about the rise in financially motivated sexual extortion cases. Find out what the alert included and what support is available ⬇ https://lnkd.in/gUfZwrMJ https://lnkd.in/eYvXtcSp Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) SWGfL Childnet International #guidance #sextortion #support

ITV News recently visited the Revenge Porn Helpline (operated by partners SWGfL and delivered by the UK Safer Internet Centre), to investigate the alarming increase in #sextortion cases. In this article, SWGfL guide you through the impact of latest findings, advice from the Revenge Porn Helpline team and available support for those who have been affected by intimate image abuse. ⬇ https://lnkd.in/e7vQms2t #IIA #support