A new report from the Stanford Internet Observatory has revealed that the tipline set up 26 years ago to combat online child exploitation is not living up to its potential and is in urgent need of technological and other improvements. The researchers warn that new artificial intelligence technology could exacerbate the problems faced by the system, making it even harder for law enforcement to identify real children in need of rescue.

The CyberTipline, established by Congress as the main line of defense for children exploited online, requires tech companies to report any child sexual abuse material they find on their platforms to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). However, the report highlights several issues with the system, including the overwhelming volume of reports, lack of important details in reports from tech companies, and legal constraints that slow down the process of identifying offenders.

The lack of highly skilled engineers, who can earn higher salaries in the tech industry, and legal constraints have further hindered the effectiveness of the system. Additionally, distractions such as a meme spreading on multiple platforms can lead to backlogs of reports, further delaying the identification of offenders.

The report also reveals that the CyberTipline received over 36 million reports in 2023, with Facebook, Instagram, and Google sending the highest number of reports. Nearly half of the tips were actionable, but many reports did not have enough information or were false alarms. The majority of reports involved countries outside the U.S., highlighting the global nature of online child exploitation.

One proposed fix in the report is to improve how tech platforms label what they are reporting to distinguish between widely shared memes and content that requires closer investigation. The NCMEC has stated that it looks forward to exploring the recommendations internally and with key stakeholders to improve the effectiveness of the CyberTipline.

Overall, the report emphasizes the need for urgent technological and other improvements to the CyberTipline to better combat online child exploitation and ensure the safety of children.