Introduction on AI and Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse is a global issue that has devastating consequences for its victims. The prevalence of child sexual abuse is alarmingly high, with an estimated one in four girls and one in six boys experiencing some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18. This according to a national survey on swedish youth’s experiences of sexual abuse. The detection and prevention of child sexual abuse is a complex and challenging task that requires the cooperation of multiple agencies and stakeholders.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a potential solution in the fight against child sexual abuse. AI can be used to identify patterns and anomalies in large volumes of data, including online content such as images, videos, and text. It can also help to automate the detection and reporting of child sexual abuse, allowing law enforcement agencies to respond more quickly to incidents of abuse.

AI can also play a role in preventing child sexual abuse by identifying individuals who are at risk of becoming abusers or victims. By analyzing data from social media and other sources, AI algorithms can identify patterns of behavior that are indicative of potential abusers or victims. This information can be used to target prevention efforts and interventions before abuse occurs.

While AI is not a silver bullet solution, it has the potential to significantly enhance our ability to detect and prevent child sexual abuse. As technology continues to evolve, it is likely that AI will become an increasingly important tool in the fight against this complex issue.