Historic child sexual abuse survivors whose abuse was captured on video and pictures experience ongoing threats to safety due to inadequate removal of this content and further circulation online
The impact of online distribution on child sexual abuse material survivors in Australia
This project documents the plight of three Australian survivors of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) whose content is being traded amongst online offenders. It aims to illustrate how ongoing failures to prevent the online distribution of CSAM impacts individual survivors and their families, with significant implications for child protection and public safety. The project is contributing to global pressure for the establishment of support, restitution and compensation for survivors of CSAM, recognising that ongoing distribution of their CSAM is an intolerable violation of their rights to privacy, safety, health and dignity.
Research findings
The project focused on three Australian CSAM survivors: 1) a boy whose photo-based series has been distributed online for over 15 years, 2) a girl whose video and photo-based series has been distributed for over 10 years, and 3) a girl who was coerced and recorded on webcam. Analysis of offender discourse identified multiple conversations of concern. These included:
The offender community maintained an ongoing and active interest in identifying the victims in the project, including asking for information about the victim’s background, location, and life circumstances.
Some offenders claimed to have personal information about the victims, as well as contact with the CSAM producers.
In one instance, offenders claimed to have identified the location and other personal information about the victim based on their CSAM.
In another instance, highly identifying information about one victim was shared online, not only exposing her but also her family and friends.
Drawing from the three case studies of Australian survivors, the project has documented the ongoing personal harms that may accrue to survivors due to online CSAM propagation. The project also highlights the lack of an integrated, survivor-focused policy response, in which CSAM removal is presently ad hoc and reactive rather than proactive and protective of victims and survivors. However, this is not unique to Australia. CSAM survivors globally experience ongoing threats to safety from inadequate removal of historic CSAM content.
The provision of restitution, compensation and support for survivors and their families, with measures to disrupt and prevent the ongoing distribution of their CSAM, would provide much-needed relief and assist in mitigating the impact on those victims and the community.
Salter, M. The impact of online distribution on child sexual abuse material survivors in Australia. In Searchlight 2023 - Childlight's Annual Flagship Report. Childlight – Global Child Safety Institute: Edinburgh, 2023.
- Researchers: Prof Michael Salter
- Ethics Approval: University of New South Wales and University of Edinburgh