In an initiative under the DTZ (Down to Zero) SUFASEC Project, workshops were organised recently to galvanise Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and cable operators of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to discuss how to prevent or block harmful content from their platforms. The workshops also highlighted the importance of reporting suspicious activities to the police which they may encounter through their service channels.
Leading ISPs, including Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone, as well as prominent cable operators like ACT Fibernet and Hathway attended the workshops. The workshops were organised in close collaboration with the Cyber Crime Departments of the respective districts, ensuring a true partnership between law enforcement and digital service providers.
The primary objective of these workshops was to make ISPs and cable operators conscious of their role concerning the sexual exploitation of children facilitated through the online medium. Online predators use these platforms to share and access child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), making it imperative for service providers to remain vigilant and proactive in monitoring and reporting such activities.
These workshops were held to discuss how ISPs and cable operators could keep in check harmful content, particularly child sexual abuse materials, on their networks. The workshop guided participants about content identification, the technological capacity to block such materials, and procedures for reporting them to local law enforcement.
Being the first-ever workshop of this sort to be held, it focused primarily on improving the understanding of Online Child Sexual Exploitation (OCSE) and the consequent responsibilities placed on the participants. The ISPsexpressed full support to CIF towards initiatives concerned with online child sexual exploitation. The service providers gave their word to explore ways to include these measures in their operational systems.
To further the momentum of these workshops, a state-level workshop with the service providers is being organised soon. This follow-up will broaden the base of the initiative by providing further detail and deeper collaboration. The success of the initiative will be measured through the levels of ISP engagement in monitoring harmful content, blocking it, reporting suspicious activities, and putting together protocols for handling these matters.
The workshop received a great response from the ISPs and cable operators, who agreed that the fight against child sexual exploitation online is extremely crucial. Although willing to contribute toward the cause, many expressed the need for added technical exposure and explicit directions to elevate these ideas.
The forthcoming state-level workshop is expected to take a more comprehensive approach by focusing on the necessary resources and strategies required to address the identified deficiencies. This workshop will provide a detailed roadmap for ISPs and cable operators, outlining clear guidelines and best practices to monitor, prevent, and report harmful content effectively. Additionally, the discussions will emphasize the importance of inter-agency collaboration, capacity-building initiatives, and the implementation of advanced tools and technologies to enhance content moderation. The ultimate goal is to equip these service providers with the knowledge and infrastructure needed to proactively contribute to a safer and more secure online environment.
This workshop marks a pivotal moment in building a safer online environment for children, strengthening the joint responsibility of government agencies, law enforcement, and digital service providers in the protection of the digital space.
