Recommendation 71: Pre-screen material before upload
From The Internet Investigation Report, published 12 March 2020.
Recommendation
The government should require industry to pre-screen material before it is uploaded to the internet to prevent access to known indecent images of children.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry asked the government to require companies to pre-screen material uploaded to the internet. In November 2020, HM Government stated that an interim code of practice on tackling child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) set out its expectation that companies prevent access to known abuse material (Home Office response, Nov 2020; Home Office, Nov 2020). It noted that pre-screening is one way of preventing access, while recognising that responses vary according to the service offered (Home Office response, Nov 2020). The code builds upon voluntary principles launched with international partners to drive collective industry action (Home Office response, Nov 2020). The record holds nothing dated later than the response of November 2020 (Home Office response, Nov 2020).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 5 Oct 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
9. In March 2020, the UK, US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand launched the Voluntary Principles to Counter Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. The principles were developed in consultation with six leading technology companies and a wide variety of experts from industry, civil society and academia, as well as the WeProtect Global Alliance (WPGA) [see paragraphs 17-23 below]. The principles aim to provide a framework to combat online CSEA, and are intended to drive collective action. 10. The aforementioned interim code of practice on tackling CSEA builds upon the Voluntary Principles which set out the UK Government’s expectation that all companies will prevent access to known child sexual abuse material. The first principle is that companies seek to prevent known child sexual abuse material from being made available to users or accessible on their platforms and services, take appropriate action under their terms of service, and report it to appropriate authorities. Pre-screening is one means of preventing access, recognising that this threat and the response that it requires may vary depending on the type and nature of the service offered.
Delivery
Home Office says not accepted (10 November 2020)
The aforementioned interim code of practice on tackling CSEA builds upon the Voluntary Principles which set out the UK Government’s expectation that all companies will prevent access to known child sexual abuse material.
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response - Home Office
Delivery statement