Encryption would ‘blindfold’ social media companies to online child abuse, warn campaigners

Under these plans, they estimate that around 14 million reports of suspected child sexual abuse could be lost every year.

Now leading voices in child protection have launched a campaign to stop social media companies “blindfolding” themselves to online child sex abuse through the implementation of end-to-end encryption.

Unveiled today (January 18), the campaign, No Place to Hide, is made up of a coalition of child safety campaigners, charities, technology experts and survivors of child sex abuse, including Barnardo’s, the Lucy Faithful Foundation, the Marie Collins Foundation and SafeToNet.

They claim end-to-end encryption could mean that social media platforms will no longer be able to detect cases of child sex abuse on their platforms, which would lead to them no longer being able to report it to the police.

“This means they are willingly blindfolding themselves to millions of incidences of child sexual abuse,” say campaigners.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council says getting quick access to the technology that criminals are using to exploit and groom children online is vital, and end-to-end encryption makes investigating this type of crime significantly harder and puts the safety of children at risk.

In 2020, 21.7 million reports of child sexual abuse material were made across social media platforms Facebook alone accounted for 94 per cent of these reports.

Polling carried out by the campaign shows:

• 72 per cent of parents believe companies like Facebook put profits before children’s online safety;
• 74 per cent of parents think these companies are not doing enough to keep children safe online; and
• 90 per cent think social media companies should have a responsibility to report child sexual abuse that occurs on their sites.

The National Crime Agency and Interpol have also warned about the risks of end-to-end encryption, with Home Secretary Priti Patel and the Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper both speaking out about their concerns.

“Despite these urgent warnings, and the catastrophic implications, most worrying is that the majority of parents don’t know what the changes are, or what they will mean for children’s safety,” say campaigners.

“Polling carried out by the campaign shows 66 per cent of parents are not aware of what end-to-end encryption is, let alone the scale of the risks.”

No Place to Hide will call for a more balanced debate on the importance of protecting both user privacy and children’s safety.

Campaigners say too often this has often been a polarised issue with advocates forced to “choose”. Technology experts are clear that it is possible to have end-to-end encryption in a way that does not benefit child sex abusers, but only if social media companies invest in the technology, they add.

The campaign will call on technology bosses to make a public commitment that they will not roll out end-to-end encryption until they have the technology to ensure any changes do not make it easier for child sex abusers to commit crimes and avoid detection as a result.

A campaign spokesperson said: “Rolling out end-to-end encryption without the safety measures in place would be like turning the lights off on the ability to identify child sex abusers online.

“These plans will mean that social media companies can no longer see the abuse that happens on their platforms and with the best will in the world you cannot report what you can’t see.

“We are asking social media companies not to blindfold themselves to the abuse that happens on their platforms.

“We’re calling on social media platforms to make a public commitment that they will only implement end-to-end encryption when they have the technology to ensure children’s safety won’t be put in jeopardy as a result.”

They added: “This debate has too often been portrayed as a trade-off between privacy and child protection when instead we want to work with these companies to find a solution that protects both.”

Barnardo’s interim co-chief executive officer Lynn Perry said: “New technologies have transformed how young people learn, play and communicate – but they have also created new risks to children’s safety.

“We are concerned that some social media companies are planning to roll out end-to-end encryption and will make it harder to detect child abuse on their platforms.

“We are calling on these companies to make a commitment that they will not introduce end-to-end encryption until they first have the right safeguards in place, so they do not make it easier for abusers to harm children.”

Stephen Bonner, the Information Commissioner’s Office executive director for innovation and technology, said: “The discussion on end-to-end encryption (E2EE) use is too unbalanced to make a wise and informed choice. There is too much focus on the costs without also weighing up the significant benefits.

“E2EE serves an important role both in safeguarding our privacy and online safety. It strengthens children’s online safety by not allowing criminals and abusers to send them harmful content or access their pictures or location.

“It is also crucial for businesses, enabling them to share information securely and fosters consumer confidence in digital services.

“E2EE is seen by some to hinder the clamp down on child abusers because it leaves law enforcers blind to harmful content. But having access to encrypted content is not the only way to catch abusers. Law enforcers have other methods such as listening to reports of those targeted, infiltrating the groups planning these offences, using evidence from convicted abusers and their systems to identify other offenders.

“We are also seeing a range of other techniques and innovations available that can be used without accessing content to help stop abuse or catch those trying to harm. As an example, platforms are listening to teenagers’ reports and limiting search results for anyone attempting unwanted contact.

“Government should continue to put the effort into maximising law enforcement and innovative techniques, such as the Safety Tech Challenge. Until we look properly at the consequences, it is hard to see any case for reconsidering the use of E2EE – delaying its use leaves everyone at risk, including children.

“We look forward to being a key participant in this crucial discussion.”