WIREDGOV

Four new organisations have joined the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT), committing to the ongoing fight against technology facilitated crimes against children.

The VGT is an international alliance of law enforcement agencies who work together to tackle the sexual abuse of children and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre represent the UK within the taskforce.

Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit, World Vision Australia, Research in Motion and The Code last month joined the VGT as private sector partners.

Over the last three years, the VGT has been working to build stronger alliances and expand the VGT membership with organisations outside of law enforcement. In recent times, this has resulted in the VGT developing strategic partnerships with:

End Child Prostitution Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes network (ECPAT International);
The International Association of Internet Hotlines (INHOPE);
The International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC);
The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the United States: and PayPal.

The new VGT partnerships will enhance CEOP’s existing partnerships with the private sector in the UK. CEOP recognises the important role the private sector has to play in helping prevent and protect children from online exploitation and welcomes the new VGT partners’ commitment to supporting international efforts to combat this crime.

Peter Davies, CEO of CEOP said “Engagement and cooperation is a strong focus for the VGT, which aims to work closely with academia, non-government organisations, industry and the private sector to keep children safe online.

“The internet has no boundaries and so it’s imperative that we continue to work together, to ensure that anyone who thinks they can use the internet or technology to cause harm to children and young people are stopped from doing so”.

Chair of the VGT Neil Gaughan said these new partnerships are valuable to the VGT and vital to wiping out online child sexual exploitation all over the world.

“When it comes to combating online child sexual exploitation, a collaborative approach is critical. I am pleased to welcome these new organisations to the VGT,” Mr Gaughan said.
“These new partnerships will assist VGT law enforcement agency members in sharing best practices and exploring new technologies to support innovative thinking to reduce the threat to children online.”