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#takeitdown

Demand Congress protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation on the internet.

CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE HAS BECOME A CRISIS ONLINE.
TELL CONGRESS TO PASS LEGISLATION TO PROTECT CHILDREN ONLINE NOW.

We need Congress to act now and pass laws that will:

combat

the proliferation of child sexual abuse material that’s online

mandate

tech companies help victims by promptly removing their images

increase

accountability, reporting, and transparency of online platforms

impose

legal consequences for platforms who fail to remove it and report it
  • combat the proliferation of child sexual abuse material that’s online
  • mandate tech companies help victims by promptly removing their images
  • increase accountability, reporting, and transparency of online platforms
  • impose legal consequences for platforms who fail to remove it and report it
Surviving a Monster

Sonya Ryan, CEO and founder of the Carly Ryan Foundation, discusses the dangers children face online after her daughter was murdered by an online predator. (2:37)

Surviving a Monster

Helping Victims of Monsters

Michelle Miller of the National Children’s Alliance reveals how the sharing of child sexual abuse material online continues to retraumatize survivors every time the image is shared, seen or traded and not removed. (1:44)

Helping Victims of Monsters

In Pursuit of Monsters

Jim Cole, retired Special Agent at Homeland Security Investigations, explains the tech tools that exist but are not implemented to protect children. (3:09)

In Pursuit of Monsters

Monsters are Real

Alan Scott of Legacy Effects (The Hunger Games, Star Trek, Jurassic Park) and Michelle Miller of the National Children’s Alliance go behind the scenes to explain the inspiration behind the design of the monster character in the #TAKEITDOWN film. (2:52)

Monsters are Real

BEING AWARE OF HOW MUCH CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL IS ONLINE AND TAKING ACTION IS HOW WE #TAKEITDOWN

Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) is any content that depicts sexually explicit activities involving a child. This devastating crime has severe and lifelong consequences for survivors, and the sharing of CSAM contributes to their retraumatization long after the abuse has ended.

In the late ‘80s, child sexual abuse material was all but eliminated. New laws and increased prosecution simply made it too risky to possess or distribute through the mail. But then the internet came along. Child sexual abuse material could now be produced, consumed and distributed anonymously. Facilitated by high-speed broadband and end-to-end encryption, live-streaming, gaming platforms and social media, the amount of child sexual abuse material circulating online has exploded – and not enough is being done to keep children safe on technology company platforms.

While U.S. tech companies are legally required to report child sexual abuse imagery once they’ve been made aware of it, they’re not required to proactively search for it. There is also no punishment for platforms that don't remove it quickly, and there are no standards for transparency and accountability.

ChildFund supports legislation that addresses these issues and gives victims a way to hold tech companies accountable for their failure to remove this content.

OVER 27 MILLION UNIQUE FILES OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL WERE REPORTED in 2022.*

0
1
2
0
2
0
1
2
0
3
%
more than the year before
0
2
3
4
5
0
6
7
8
9
%
of the victims are prepubescent
0
5
6
7
8
%
are infants or toddlers
(Source: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

RESOURCES AND SUPPORT

IF YOU’RE A PARENT

Learn how you can help your children stay safe when they’re online.

IF YOU’RE A SURVIVOR

You are not alone. Access help for yourself or someone you know.

IF YOU SEE IT ONLINE

Make a CyberTipline report with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, regardless if it is of you or others.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS

Get answers to FAQs and learn about our work to protect children online.

JOIN US to END CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE ONLINE

Demand Congress act now and pass legislation to mandate tech companies #TakeItDown.

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About ChildFund

Every child needs someone who’s on their side – someone who cares about what happens to them and works to ensure their highest good. ChildFund is a global community of people who care about children and take action to help them live at their fullest potential at every stage of their lives.

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