Child protection group criticizes U.K. Home Secretary's ultimatum to big tech

"Ending child abuse isn't as simple as censoring more," said Prostasia Foundation

San Francisco, CA – September 7, 2018 – Prostasia Foundation, a San Francisco based child protection organization has criticized U.K. Home Secretary Sajid Javid's demands to tech companies this week that they do more to reduce child sexual abuse online, or face regulation.

Jeremy Malcolm, Executive Director of Prostasia Foundation, claimed that similar legislation in the United States had seen such companies censoring abuse prevention materials. "Yes companies should do more against child sex abusers, but regulation doesn't make them do a better job, just a more careless one," he said.

"The Internet can be used to commit child sexual abuse, but it can also help steer people away from abuse. Companies like Medium, Tumblr, and Discord have already been found censoring prevention material along with abuse material, because FOSTA makes it more risky for them to make a wrong call."

FOSTA, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, was passed in the U.S. Congress in April, and can hold Internet companies responsible for facilitating sex trafficking. Rights groups such as Prostasia claim that this has made the fight against child sex trafficking more difficult, while harming those who engage in consensual adult sex work, and resulting in censorship of child sexual abuse prevention resources.

"We can't rely on technology alone to solve this terrible problem," Malcolm said. "But there are things Internet companies can do to help. We have experts who would like to advise them on how to make smarter decisions that would help prevent abuse, but new laws holding them liable if they make a mistake are getting in the way."

For further information, please contact:

Jeremy Malcolm (Executive Director)

+1 415 650 2557 – [email protected]

Prostasia’s website: https://prost.asia

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