
AI giving offenders ‘DIY child sexual abuse’ tool, as dozens of child victims used in AI models, IWF warns MPs
The IWF has welcomed upcoming new legislation while giving evidence in Parliament this week.
Published: Wed 2 Apr 2025
Peer39, a leading provider of contextual intelligence for digital advertising, has joined forces with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) to help disrupt and demonetise the spread of harmful content online.
Peer39 provides advanced brand safety and contextual targeting solutions for programmatic advertisers, helping them ensure their advertisements are placed on webpages that best align with their brand. By becoming an IWF Member, Peer39 is taking proactive steps to make sure advertisers and their agencies' digital media spend does not include webpages containing child sexual abuse material, helping advertisers avoid the risk of inadvertently funding or appearing alongside illegal content.
Through its partnership with the IWF, Peer39 has integrated the IWF’s dynamic URL List and Non-Photographic Imagery (NPI) URL List into its processes. These lists are updated daily by IWF analysts, who work tirelessly to identify and remove webpages confirmed to contain images and videos of child sexual abuse, including CGI, drawings, and other non-photographic representations.
This partnership comes at a time when the scale of child sexual abuse content online continues to grow at an alarming rate. In 2024, IWF analysts removed 291,270 webpages, a five per cent increase on the 275,650 webpages identified in 2023.
Mario Diez, CEO of Peer39, said: “We are proud to support the collaborative efforts of the IWF in its vital mission to make the internet a safer and better place for all. At Peer39, we recognise the critical importance of protecting children and ensuring a digital environment free from harmful content.”
Derek Ray-Hill, Interim CEO of the IWF, said: “We’ve identified more webpages containing child sexual abuse material this year than in any other year in our history. This is a global problem that requires a united response. The children in these images are repeatedly victimised every time someone views their abuse material. Partnerships like this are vital in helping us prevent the spread of this criminal content and protect children from unimaginable harm.”
Find out more about becoming a Member and the services the IWF can provide at www.iwf.org.uk/our-services.
The IWF has welcomed upcoming new legislation while giving evidence in Parliament this week.