Technology

"Nothing in history has transformed the character and practice of child sexual exploitation more than the internet" — Report to Congress: Increasing the Efficacy of Investigations of Online Child Sexual Exploitation

Technology is neither inherently good nor bad. The same engineering principles used to put humans on the moon has been applied to missile systems. Technological development produces both benefits and measurable harms. The internet has enabled global communication and information access, while also facilitating online exploitation at unprecedented scale. Technological advances continue to reshape our digital ecosystem, creating new capabilities and new risks. Emerging technologies require observation, understanding, and ethical and regulatory consideration.

The following technologies represent key areas of interest and concern in online child exploitation: