Governments

Governments play a key role in creating and implementing the legal environment to prevent and respond to child sexual exploitation and abuse online. National law enforcement authorities are responsible for investigating crimes and enforcing the laws.

Globally aligned internet regulation has significant potential to boost the response to child sexual exploitation and abuse online by incentivising consistent action from platforms to tackle harm. The past decade has seen a shift from the era of insufficient self-regulation to an age of increasing legislative initiatives and regulation around the world. As new online safety legislations come into effect, the next challenge is to ensure that all these laws, being developed in different countries, are globally aligned.

The Alliance supports countries to work together to ensure coordinated approaches, knowledge sharing and collaboration. Our Model National Response provides a framework for governments and other members to assess how they are taking a holistic approach to protect children online.

In 2022, we established a Global Taskforce on child sexual abuse online to promote improved cooperation and collaboration among governments and ensure there are no safe havens for the facilitation or hosting of child sexual abuse online. The taskforce is chaired by the European Union, with the African Union as vice-chair, and with 20 government representatives from around the world. The taskforce meets twice a year.