ICCAM: Aiding hotlines in the fight against CSAM

ICCAM, which stands for “I see Child Abuse Material,” is a secure online platform designed for member hotlines of our partner INHOPE. As analysts need to process over half a million CSAM reports a year, strong tools are a must. ICCAM serves as a technical solution for the removal of online CSAM and facilitates secure communication among hotlines worldwide.

 

What does ICCAM do?

ICCAM enables hotline analysts to do their work safely and efficiently. The process begins when a hotline receives a report about illegal material. First, an analyst manually determines whether the page contains harmful content. If they believe it does, the URL is processed in ICCAM. The system crawls the page to extract information and delivers this to the analyst. The streamlined workflow then allows analysts to complete specific tasks for each case. Such as image and video classification, or content sharing for international collaboration. All geared towards swift removal of CSAM. After the case is handled, reports can be made and shared with law enforcement for further investigation. This way new abusers are identified, and victims are saved.

 

Who is ICCAM for?

The ICCAM platform is designed for INHOPE’s international member hotlines, consisting of 52 hotlines in 48 different countries. These organizations receive and process reports of illegal content from the general public all over the world. Over half a million CSAM reports every year. Because of the illegal nature of the material, safe work processes and data exchange are a top priority. Analysts need to be protected from extensive exposure to harmful content. Additionally, cases have to be shared without any leaks. Hotlines, Law Enforcement Agencies, and industry organizations work together to fight CSAM.

What is the future of ICCAM?

As we believe in continually improving, ICCAM is updated regularly. While updating the platform, suggestions from users are used to improve its functionality. Currently, this includes work on an API to improve data exchange. Since the amount of CSAM reports keeps growing, further improvements on automation and efficiency are in the pipeline as well. We are staying on top of ICCAM’s development. The fight against CSAM is extensive and ever-changing, and we will adapt.

 

Who makes ICCAM possible?

The ICCAM was created for INHOPE, a global network of 50+ hotlines fighting online CSAM. The ICCAM project is funded by the European Commission, as part of the Safer Internet and Connecting Europe Facility programs. Together, we are creating a safer internet for children.

How does ICCAM fit into the ZiuZ ecosystem?

The ZiuZ ecosystem ensures that the fight against CSAM is effective on all fronts. Ranging from law enforcement investigations to reports from the public. ICCAM is the first step for reports coming from the public.

The reports generated through ICCAM can be submitted to INTERPOL for inclusion in the ICSE database. They can also be forwarded to law enforcement agencies for further investigation. During CSAM investigations, CPORT enables law enforcement agencies to work together with hotline analysts within the ICCAM system to ensure smooth collaboration from both sides. Any visual data retrieved in the investigations that follow can then be analyzed with Fenoz.