Prevent Open Web Distribution of CSAM Links

Risk scoring data service that detects patterns in datasets associated with CSAM text and link sharing.

Vistalworks new CSAM link sharing detection service to identify sensitive criminal activity fast

Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM) are more available on the open web than ever before. The distributors know that sharing images and videos directly is really high risk and the tools exist to catch them, so they’ve changed their tactics to evade detection. Offenders are increasingly using the open web to share text links to folders of CSAM instead, and Vistalworks is starting to seeing generative AI being used to generate automated prompt terms to illegal material. This greatly increases the chance of first time offenders, including vulnerable young people, being exposed to CSAM that they wouldn’t have otherwise found. And it means that web platforms, publishers and digital services may be exploited to facilitate the distribution on illegal CSAM, in breach of laws in multiple jurisdictions.

For the last year Vistalworks has been working on the UK Government’s Safety Tech Challenge, applying our innovative methods for detecting online illicit trade to help disrupt the sharing of text links to CSAM on the open web. As part of our ground-breaking reaserch and data analytics, we’ve found that offenders are deliberately exploiting the open web, search engines and generative AI to expand the reach of the material and to avoid detection.  New offender behaviour requires new counter-measures by online platforms, and Vistalworks has developed an innovative solution to help take action now.

Data services that help platforms and digital services tackle online harms

Detecting and Preventing CSAM Link Sharing on the Open Web

This secure risk scoring data service from Vistalworks detects patterns in datasets that are associated with criminal distribution of text and links associated with Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM).

Image matching and basic key word lists are no longer enough to prevent distribution - offenders are constantly adapting, highly evasive and using a range of hard to detect tactics to exploit open web opportunities.

Vistalworks’ innovative Data Scoring Service for CSAM text and text link detection, is contextual, constantly adapting and updated, informed by expert behavioural research and offender profiling, and developed with specialist legal and enforcement input.

Available directly from Vistalworks and through Microsoft’s Azure Marketplace
Vistalworks detects and risk-profile non-image based indicators of CSAM trading and distribution in a broad range of open web datasets, including search engine indexes, comment threads, and generative AI outputs.

Because of the security risks and sensitivity associated with this threat space, this is a secure cloud hosted subscription service that deals with directly transferred (rather than scraped) datasets. API’s and secure bulk upload/download capabilities are available. An Azure Marketplace option is available to Microsoft customers. Please get in touch directly for a confidential conversation around potential requirements.

Who is the CSAM Link Detection solution for?

National, International and Local Government Agencies

Third-Party Ecommerce Marketplaces

Social Media Platforms and Discussion Boards

Internet Service Providers, Search Engine Operators and Hosting Platforms