After Meta, Google has taken a call to report content flagged as child sexual abuse material (CSAM) directly to the government, according to Reuters. This move is a shift from the previous system where the tech giant used to first report CSAM to a US-based nonprofit before being passed to law enforcement in the concerned country.
Why Google Is Changing Its Reporting Process
The report adds that the government officials recently held discussions with Microsoft and Google about the CSAM reporting process. Notably, the officials mentioned concerns related to sending reports through an overseas intermediary. This could delay action in cases where a child could face immediate danger.
As per the system that was followed for years, the reports are sent to the National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). It is a US-led nonprofit which further shares the details with law enforcement agencies in the relevant country.
How Google Detects And Reports Online CSAM
According to Google, it uses various techniques to analyse content of a Google Account for CSAM. The company revealed in a support blog that it identifies CSAM with trained specialist teams and uses AI, blocking, filter technology, and hash-matching. The hash matching is a unique digital fingerprint used for an image or a video so it could be compared with hashes of known CSAM.
It said, “We primarily use technologies to proactively detect violations of our policies, and this can be combined with other techniques, including human review and oversight, to ensure quality control and accuracy of these technologies.”
Google explained, “When we detect CSAM on our platforms, we remove it and make a “CyberTipline” report to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or other relevant authorities around the world. When we make a report to NCMEC, we may include relevant information such as the violative content, contextual data, and/or personal information identifying the user or the minor victim. NCMEC, in turn, forwards reports to law enforcement authorities around the world, as appropriate.”
