Artificial intelligence, encrypted platforms and rapidly evolving online technologies are creating new challenges for those working to protect children, with the 11th annual Youth, Technology and Virtual Communities (YTVC) Conference bringing experts from Australia and around the world together to strengthen the response to online child exploitation.
Hosted by Argos, the QPS Crime Command’s specialist online child exploitation investigation and prevention unit, the conference brings together almost 400 delegates from 11 countries, representing a broad range of government and non-government agencies, including law enforcement, corrections, health, intelligence, academia, education and child protection.
The theme of this year’s conference focuses on ‘Collaboration’, recognising that protecting children from online exploitation cannot be achieved by any one agency, jurisdiction or sector alone.
Over the next three days, Australian and international speakers from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, Southeast Asia and the United States and delegates will examine emerging technologies, innovative prevention approaches, case studies, investigative strategies and partnerships that prevent and disrupt child exploitation offending.
Specialist Operations Deputy Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon, Queensland Family and Child Commission Principal Commissioner Luke Twyford and U.S. Secret Service Investigative Analyst Ryan Heethuis, attended the opening of the conference on the Gold Coast and addressed media about the current challenges in online child exploitation and the importance of collaboration across agencies and jurisdictions to disrupt offending and better protect children.
Deputy Commissioner, Cheryl Scanlon said Argos is recognised internationally as a world leading child exploitation investigation and prevention unit, with a strong focus on innovation, intelligence-sharing and partnerships.
“Each year the YTVC conference highlights the importance of inter-agency cooperation by finding solutions to improve our response to sickening crimes committed against children, but the threat environment continues to change rapidly,” Deputy Commissioner Scanlon said.
“Advances in artificial intelligence are creating new challenges for investigators, including the production and manipulation of child exploitation material and the difficulty of distinguishing synthetic content from real victim imagery.
“We are also seeing the misuse of AI-enabled image manipulation tools, including applications designed to generate harmful intimate imagery without consent.
“Offenders are using encrypted platforms and online spaces to conceal offending, share material and evade detection, creating significant challenges for investigators and partner agencies.
“Online exploitation, including coercion, sextortion and sadistic offending, causes profound harm to children, young people and families. The impact is real, lasting and deeply serious.
“This conference is an important opportunity to strengthen our collective capability, share best practice, build enduring partnerships and ensure our responses keep pace with the risks children face online.
“By combining our expertise, resources and commitment, we can continue to disrupt offenders, protect victims and create safer online environments for children and young people.”
