Over the last five years, six million images and videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) have been removed from the internet through Project Arachnid; an innovative, global tool operated by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P), that detects known images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and issues removal notices. This staggering statistic could be much larger if tech companies prioritized the online safety, privacy and protection of children and survivors.
The rapid growth of online platforms that feature user-generated content has made the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) easier than ever, growing at an exponential rate. It is on these platforms, many of which the average consumer uses every day, that CSAM is posted and shared by an active, interconnected, and vast online community of offenders. It is a traumatic cycle of abuse for survivors who, in some instances, are also harassed and cyberstalked by this community, while those that have the power to help often turn a blind eye to the problem.
To shed light on the issue and call on governments and the public to demand change, agency partner No Fixed Address aimed to humanize the experience of survivors by creating this chilling film entitled Unwanted Followers which tells the story of one woman’s decades of struggle to escape her torment. Following her from the original abuse and its recording to adulthood–when she worries about her own daughter’s safety–this film shows the life-long impact of the distribution of CSAM and its invasion into a survivor’s everyday life, creating fear of being recognized to even being stalked by offenders who have come across their abuse online.
“Survivors don’t simply get over childhood sexual assault and the recording of their abuse. They live with it their entire lives. When tech fails to remove the abusive images/videos, these crimes aren’t just memories–they can remain online for years,” said Trent Thompson, VP, creative director, at No Fixed Address. “Haunted by the visual of survivors unable to escape their torment, we aimed to create a small glimpse into their experience for the viewers to have a better understanding and rally together to demand change.”
Before being released to the public, the film was aired at the G7 Summit in London as a call to action for world leaders to hold tech industry leaders accountable in the fight against CSAM. Following the airing of the film, discussions focused on the need for more solutions to tackle the horrific crime of CSAM with attendees commenting on the film’s ability to capture the victim’s perspective, as well as the need for tools like Project Arachnid and the wider adoption of protection measures.
“The initial hands-on child sexual abuse was indescribable. The continued distribution of its recording, intolerable. It is for this exact reason we created Project Arachnid,” said Lianna McDonald, executive director of C3P. “For decades, tech’s response has been woefully inadequate and through our work with No Fixed Address we aim to demand more to protect our children and future generations online.”
Legislation needs to be established and tech companies have a duty of care to protect children on their services.
Unwanted Followers was directed by Mathieu Grimard via 4Zero1 and Voyelles Films.
