Presentation 1:
'Navigating the complexities of artificial intelligence'
"Exploring AI's Impact on Child Safety" investigates AI's dual role in child safety, addressing its potential benefits and risks. Language's influence on policy, victim restitution, and societal norms is examined, alongside AI's potential as a tool for exploitation by children. The session analyzes offender techniques in creating child sexual abuse material and explores AI's capacity to enhance investigator workflows. The presentation aims to illuminate the complexities of AI's intersection with child safety, emphasizing the imperative of responsible discourse and proactive strategies to mitigate harm and maximize AI's positive contributions.
CEO - Spotlight
Kristin Boorse
Melissa Stroebel
Head of Research & Insights - Thorn
Presentation 2:
'State of the Issue: A multi-source exploration of the latest threats kids are confronting online'
Technology is unlocking new frontiers of exploration and connection. But it's also opening doors to new threats faster than we can keep up. This session will provide an overview of these evolving risks through the eyes of young people and those targeting them for abuse.
Drawing from Thorn’s new and ongoing research, which includes surveys with over 8,000 youth aged 9-17 since 2019, we'll delve into key risk areas within their online experiences, including interactions with online contacts, perceptions of grooming, and rates of online sexual encounters. Expert perspectives from academics, investigators, and analysis of dark web activities and CyberTipline reports will be integrated to highlight emerging threats like youth commercialization, AIG-CSAM, financial sextortion, and violent online self-harm groups. The information presented will offer attendees a clearer, youth-centered perspective on online child sexual exploitation and empower them to actively participate in collaborative approaches to combat its prevalence.
Head of Research & Insights - Thorn
Melissa Stroebel