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BRITAIN-POLITICS-IT-ABUSE
UK demands action from tech giants over online child abuse
LONDON, Sept 3, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Britain warned Monday that internet
giants could face new laws if they fail to tackle online child abuse content,
revealing that up to 80,000 people in the country were deemed to pose a
threat.
“The threat has evolved quicker than industry’s response and industry has
not kept up. I am not just asking for change, I am demanding it,” British
interior minister Sajid Javid said in a speech in London.
“I’ve been impressed by the progress the likes of Google, Facebook,
Microsoft, Twitter and Apple have made on counter-terrorism.
“Now I want to see the same level of commitment from these companies and
others for child sexual exploitation,” the Home Secretary added.
Javid wants the industry to block child-abuse material immediately upon
detection, help shut down live-streamed offending, and better police online
platforms.
“How far we legislate will be informed by the action and attitude that
industry takes,” he warned.
The minister revealed that official National Crime Agency figures estimate
up to 80,000 people in Britain posed some kind of sexual threat to children
online.
Google recently announced the roll out of “cutting-edge” artificial
intelligence to help review content, while Microsoft said it “works closely
with others in industry, government and civil society to help combat its
spread online.”
BSS/AFP/MRI/2028 hrs