This app monitors real-time network traffic and the user’s screen. Images that allegedly show child abuse are preventively detected and blocked, even before the user sees them. This two-year Protech project, starting this month, is working on an app that can be voluntarily installed on the devices of individuals who are at risk of accessing child sexual abuse material, or who are concerned about their sexual thoughts about children.
This makes this app potentially an essential instrument for the sustainable, long-term prevention of child abuse. An app can be compared to the use of virtual reality that is used to detect elder abuse.
Child abuse
Involved in this project from Tilburg University are Stefan Bogaerts, professor of developmental disorders and forensic psychology, assistant professor Elien de Caluwé and PhD candidate Manon Kleijn. Only from the Department of Developmental Psychology. They conclude that sexual abuse online is a complex and multidimensional problem with no simple solutions.
But also that digital technology can play a role in reducing sexual abuse. They state that it is essential that users feel safe to use this. This by providing certain functions and measures that increase the safety of users, such as security and privacy settings, notification and blocking options.
Awareness
”In addition, continuous investments must be made in raising user awareness about online safety and the prevention of sexual abuse. Prevention of online sexual abuse is a joint responsibility of tech companies, science, government and society. Together we can work on a culture change and create a safe online environment for all users,” they say.
Cooperation
The European Commission has made € 1.8 million available to develop this app. The Protech project is led by one of the largest university hospitals in Europe, Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin (CUB), in collaboration with experts from diverse and broad fields such as criminology, public health, developmental, clinical and forensic psychology, software engineering, child protection and internet safety.