An Integrative Review of Historical Technology and Countermeasure Usage Trends in Online Child Sexual Exploitation Material Offender

University of Edinburgh and George Mason University

A systematic literature review of the technologies that offenders of online child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) make use of. The literature review shows that offenders tend not to be ‘early adopters’ of new technologies, but rather continue to use trusted technologies even after higher functioning options are introduced. In addition to technologies utilised to access CSEM, offenders also employ countermeasures in order to avoid detection, for example encryption and anonymous browsers that protect the user’s identity and physical place such as the Tor browser. The researchers found that only a few offenders encrypt manually. With encryption built-in to technologies and the ability to use the Tor browser to visit traditional (non-dark) websites, much of the prior research into countermeasures is dated and may not be indicative of current behaviours.