The internet was one of humanity's greatest inventions and has revolutionized the way we connect and access information. However, this same tool that connects us also exposes its users to serious dangers, such as online child sexual abuse. The presence of this illicit content on the network threatens not only the victims, but society as a whole, requiring urgent action to create a safer virtual environment.
Protecting your network from child sexual abuse requires more than technical solutions. It is essential to establish strict ethical and social standards to prevent the spread of this criminal material. By combating the perpetuation of this crime, we contribute to a safer online environment for everyone. The growth of digital platforms has increased the urgency of implementing effective tools to block the access and circulation of this type of content. Fortunately, initiatives like the Arachnid Project have been working collaboratively to identify and remove this type of material.
The importance of blocking child sexual abuse content
Child sexual abuse content on the internet causes irreparable harm to victims and society. The dissemination of this criminal material perpetuates the abuse with each viewing, re-traumatizing victims and violating their privacy and dignity. Furthermore, the production and distribution of this type of content fuels a lucrative and extremely dangerous criminal industry.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) reported through its studies that in 2023, there was a 25% increase in the detection of URLs containing child sexual abuse material , highlighting the importance of combating this problem. The IWF highlighted the finding of 275,652 URLs confirmed to contain images of child sexual abuse. Only in the last year, an alarming indication of the dissemination of this material.
Thus, the institution also reported that, in 2023, there was a 1000% increase in the dissemination of child sexual abuse material with primary school children, aged between 7 and 10 years . The initiative blocked more than a million web pages (1,069,488), which contained at least one, and often dozens, hundreds or thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse.
Although the study shows that the place with the highest incidence of child pornography is hosted in South Asia, the institution ChildLight notes that this data may be presented in a distorted way, as these criminal users use resources that hide their real location.
In addition to causing irreparable psychological and emotional harm to victims, access to and dissemination of child sexual abuse material constitutes a serious crime, punishable by law in several countries. In other words, blocking this type of content is, therefore, an ethical and legal obligation.
By restricting access to this type of material, companies and institutions that provide internet services contribute to the creation of a safer digital environment, a place where users can browse without running the risk of encountering illegal and traumatic content.
Legal and social consequences
The dissemination of child sexual abuse content is a very serious violation of human rights and is subject to various legal penalties. Thus, in many countries, legislation provides for prison sentences for anyone who stores, distributes or even accesses this type of content. In addition to the significant impact on the reputation of platforms that do not act actively to prevent this spread. According to Brazilian legislation, the “production, reproduction, direction, photography, filming or recording, by any means, of an explicit sex scene or pornography involving a child or adolescent” is a crime, categorizing it as a heinous crime, with imprisonment from 4 to 8 years and fine.
Technology companies that fail to implement effective mechanisms for detecting and blocking illicit content may also face lawsuits and damages. Many companies end up suffering the loss of trust LGPD penalties .
Thus, the dissemination of child sexual abuse material on the internet has a negative impact on society as a whole. By creating an environment of impunity, it encourages the perpetuation of these crimes and causes irreparable psychological damage to the victims, further aggravating the suffering caused by the initial violence.
Digital responsibility
We understand the concept of digital responsibility as the duty that individuals, companies and governments have to ensure that the use of technology and its resources is safe, ethical and in accordance with current legislation. In the case of blocking child sexual abuse content, this responsibility is an even more critical factor.
For technology companies and internet service providers, implementing solutions that block the dissemination of this material is a priority. It is necessary to invest in cutting-edge technologies, such as content filters and real-time monitoring systems, to quickly detect and block illegal content.
Governments must lead the way in creating solid public policies to combat online child sexual abuse. This initiative requires international cooperation between regulatory agencies, technology companies and civil society organizations. In other words, by establishing a legal framework and encouraging collaboration between different sectors, governments contribute to a safer virtual environment. Therefore, the active participation of users, reporting suspicious content, is essential to complement these actions.
Arachnid Project
Project Arachnid is one of the main global initiatives to combat child sexual abuse content on the internet. The project was launched by the Canadian Center for Child Protection , and is an automated detection tool that scours the internet for images and videos of child abuse.
With the help of advanced technologies, such as machine learning , the project can identify and flag suspicious content in real time. Since its launch, the system has already removed millions of illegal from the internet, representing a major step forward in combating the spread of this material.
In addition to acting proactively, Project Arachnid also works in partnership with organizations and internet service providers to ensure that their blocklists are always up to date, to ensure that users are protected from accessing sexual abuse content childish.
Arachnid Project in partnership with Lumiun DNS
The partnership between the Arachnid Project and Lumiun DNS demonstrates the effectiveness of technological solutions in combating online child sexual abuse. This collaboration helps block access to harmful content and protect children and teenagers on the internet. Together, these projects deliver concrete results and contribute to a safer virtual environment for everyone.
Lumiun Lumiun DNS , a content filtering solution, uses the blocklists provided by the Arachnid Project to prevent users from accessing websites that contain child sexual abuse material. This intense collaboration allows companies to implement an extra layer of security on their networks, ensuring not only that illegal content is blocked, but also that users are protected against other digital threats, such as phishing and malware .
Lumiun Lumiun DNS also offers updates ensuring that new threats are quickly identified and neutralized before they cause real problems. This feature is particularly important in a scenario where illicit content is constantly moved and redistributed.
How does blocking illegal content on the internet work?
Thus, blocking illegal content, such as child sexual abuse, is done through block lists that contain URLs , domains and IPs that are associated with illicit materials. These lists receive constant updates with the support of organizations such as the Arachnid Project, the IWF and other entities that combat online crime.
DNS- based filtering technologies use these lists to prevent users from being able to access pages that contain illegal content.
In other words, these updates are essential, as criminals often change or change the addresses of pages that host illegal content to avoid blocking them. Advanced filtering tools and artificial intelligence are essential resources in this process, ensuring that networks are always protected. Finally, content filtering can be adjusted to suit each company's policies, offering a personalized layer of protection that meets the specific needs of each business.
Benefits of Automatically Blocking Sensitive Content
Automatic blocking of sensitive content is a feature that brings numerous benefits to network security. This automatic blocking not only prevents access to illegal material, it also protects users from threats such as phishing , malware and other types of cyber attacks.
Its proactive protection is one of its greatest benefits, preventing users from accessing dangerous or potentially traumatizing content. Automatic blocking also ensures compliance with legal regulations, so your company will be protected against fines and sanctions imposed by regulatory bodies.
Automatic filters simplify network management, allowing administrators to control access to inappropriate content. By automatically blocking harmful materials, companies promote a safer and more productive work environment, contributing to employee well-being. This technological solution is effective, easy to implement and has a positive impact on information security and users' mental health.
How to implement effective measures to block child sexual abuse content
Implementing effective measures to block child abuse content involves a combination of technologies, internal policies and best practices. content filtering solutions , such as Lumiun DNS , which blocks access to websites that host illegal . This type of solution uses lists that are constantly updated by organizations like the Arachnid Project to ensure that known website addresses are blocked immediately.
The implementation of continuous monitoring systems is another important aspect of your strategy. Illicit websites often change addresses to avoid blocking, making it essential to use tools that monitor the network and update their block lists.
In addition to technological tools, the implementation of a clear and well-established internal policy on internet use is essential. Companies and institutions must establish internal rules to guide their employees and users on what is considered acceptable behavior on the network and what are the consequences of attempts to access content considered illegal .
We need to understand that the implementation of these policies must be accompanied by an employee awareness and training program
Collaboration with external partners is also very valuable. Collaboration with internet providers, child protection organizations and law enforcement can facilitate the rapid blocking of illicit content and allow incidents to be reported and handled with the necessary urgency.
What are the tools available on the market?
There are several tools available on the market for blocking illicit content, such as security software, filtered DNS and solutions based on artificial intelligence . Lumiun Lumiun DNS , for example, is a tool that works at the DNS layer to block access to websites that contain inappropriate or illegal content. Furthermore, this resource has constant updates and integration with global communities , such as those provided by the Arachnid Project.
OpenDNS and SafeDNS are also widely used by companies and educational institutions to protect their users against harmful content. In other words, these solutions, as the name suggests, block specific categories of websites, but do not offer all the customizable features that companies need.
In addition to DNS solutions, there is also specialized software that monitors network traffic in real time, being able to identify and block prohibited content. This type of technology can be integrated into network management systems and offer detailed reports and alerts in cases of access attempts.
For companies or organizations that need an extra level of protection , it is necessary to have tools that use artificial intelligence to automatically detect new illicit content, without the need for user intervention. Thus, these systems analyze the content of websites in real time and recognize patterns of abusive material.
Solutions like Lumiun DNS can be integrated with leading security resources like MikroTik, pfSense® intrusion detection systems, endpoint solutions to provide a layered defense against online threats. This integration allows different parts of the security system to work together to detect and block threats.
Furthermore, integration with the network traffic analysis system allows the creation of automatic alerts in the event of suspicious behavior, such as repeated attempts to access blocked websites. Therefore, this type of alert will help security teams quickly respond to possibilities and take preventive measures.
Practical examples of use
A practical example of the use of content blocking tools can be seen in educational institutions filtered DNS systems to protect their students. Schools and universities have been implementing solutions like Lumiun DNS to prevent access to websites with child sexual abuse content, violence or other inappropriate materials.
Therefore, large companies have adopted these solutions to protect their employees and avoid productivity and cybersecurity . Blocking websites that contain malware or illicit content is a fundamental measure to prevent system and network infections, as well as combating data leakage.
Internet service providers have also been adopting this type of solution to strengthen their infrastructure, offering their customers the guarantee of safe browsing . Governments have implemented public policies that encourage the use of content blocking tools to prevent the spread of illegal online.
Challenges in detecting and blocking illicit content
Detecting and blocking illicit content in the digital environment faces constant challenges. The frequent changing of addresses and domains by cybercriminals hosting child sexual abuse material makes monitoring and filtering much more difficult. To overcome this barrier, we must develop increasingly sophisticated and intelligent tools that can proactively identify and block this content.
encryption technologies and virtual private networks (VPNs) is another significant challenge. In other words, this practice makes it more difficult for monitoring tools to identify illegal traffic, requiring more robust and intelligent solutions.
Furthermore, many of the platforms used to share this type of content are decentralized and operate on the dark web , hindering tracking and blocking. Traditional security solutions are not always able to access and monitor these networks, creating a gap in digital protection.
The lack of international collaboration is another problem in this fight. Although there are numerous initiatives, such as the Arachnid Project , global coordination between countries is still very poor. It is necessary for technology companies and public security to work together to ensure faster and more effective action against the spread of illicit content.
One-click blocking filter
The blocking tool, which requires just one click to configure, offers a practical and affordable solution for users who want to protect their networks against illegal and threats present in the digital environment. Additionally, these tools allow network administrators to quickly and easily configure blocks without requiring advanced technical knowledge.
What type of tool is Lumiun DNS ? Its interface allows administrators to choose content categories to block with a single click. These categories include child pornography, gambling, violence , and even misuse . With its ease of use, this tool is important in corporate and educational environments, allowing you to manage security even with small teams and limited resources.
In addition to being a simple-to-use tool, one-click blocking offers flexibility, allowing administrators to adjust their blocking settings to suit their organization's needs. For example: a company can block gaming sites during working hours, but can allow access during non-working hours.
Its functionality also integrates well with broader security systems, enabling centralized and efficient management of your network security. Additionally, this significantly reduces the time and effort to keep the network secure and compliant with current policies.
The contribution of companies and organizations to digital security
Companies and organizations play an important role in promoting digital security by adopting measures that protect their network and users. Investing in content blocking tools and collaborating with initiatives like Project Arachnid allows companies to prevent the spread of child sexual abuse and other forms of illegal content.
Additionally, several innovative digital security solutions are under development that are powered by artificial intelligence . These tools improve the detection of illicit content and increase the effectiveness of blocking, reducing the response time for removing prohibited materials.
Thus, it is possible for organizations to contribute to digital security through a culture of awareness and responsibility among their users and employees. To this end, implementing training on safe use of the internet and the importance of reporting suspicious content is a highly recommended strategy. Companies and organizations can also collaborate with governments and Public Security to create public policies that promote digital security. This collaboration is essential to ensure that the digital environment remains a safe space for everyone.
Global initiatives
Several global initiatives are underway to combat the spread of child sexual abuse on the internet. Organizations like Project Arachnid and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) have been working tirelessly to identify and remove this type of content from digital platforms. These initiatives collaborate with governments and internet providers to improve strategies and ensure they block prohibited content as efficiently as possible.
International bodies such as Interpol and Europol have been working to facilitate cooperation between countries in the fight against digital crimes, including the dissemination of child sexual abuse material. This is possible through sharing information and coordinating efforts that help identify and arrest criminals operating on the internet.
Governments around the world have shown a lot of initiative in implementing legislation to force technology companies to remove and block illegal content. These new laws help create a safer environment and increase companies' responsibility to reduce the circulation of harmful materials.
Internal digital security policies
Internal digital security policies are essential resources to ensure that companies or institutions are prepared to face cyber threats and protect their users against illicit content. These policies include guidelines on internet use, information storage, and security measures such as content blocking and malware .
Therefore, to create an effective internal policy, the company or institution must analyze in detail the risks to which it is exposed. With this, we can identify the categories of content that we should block and the security tools that we can use to achieve this objective, informing each employee about their responsibility in the digital protection process.
A complete information security policy includes a well-defined incident response plan. With clear procedures for data leaks and unauthorized access, companies ensure quick and effective responses, minimizing damage and protecting their digital assets. Furthermore, a trained and prepared team is essential to deal with these situations efficiently.
It is important to remember that periodic review of internal policies is essential. Cyber threats evolve daily, and digital security policies must follow this evolution, aligning with current best practices and technologies.
The importance of acting proactively
A proactive approach to blocking illegal content on the internet is a responsibility that must be shared by companies, governments and users . Blocking child sexual abuse material is critical to protecting victims and ensuring the internet remains a safe space for everyone.
Digital security solutions like Lumiun DNS and monitoring tools help prevent the spread of illegal content, minimizing the risk of accidental exposure. In other words, collaboration between different sectors is indispensable and crucial to face this global problem more effectively.
Initiatives such as Project Arachnid and partnerships with digital security companies demonstrate that it is possible to reduce the spread of illegal content through advanced technologies and cooperation.
In summary, being proactive in implementing content blocking is a vital step in creating a safer and more secure digital environment. Investment in digital security goes beyond legal compliance, it is an ethical commitment to everyone's security and well-being.
