Child Sexual Abuse Research Reduction Network: Showcasing Research on Technology-Facilitated Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

Session Submission Type: Pre-arranged Panel

Abstract

Technology-facilitated child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) is a significant and multifaceted global problem. While current research efforts offer important insights into this crime type, they typically operate within silos with minimal sharing of knowledge and resources between researchers and practitioners. To foster greater innovation and collaboration among these stakeholders, we launched the Child Sexual Abuse Reduction Research Network (CSARRN) in 2023, with past annual workshops held December 2023 (University of Adelaide, Australia), December 2024 (Leiden University, The Netherlands), and our upcoming workshop in December 2025 (University of Valencia, Spain). The Network’s mission is to bring together scholars, practitioners, government agencies, and private and not-for-profit organisations to develop new, unified, yet interdisciplinary approaches to addressing CSAE. Full-paper workshop proceedings are published in peer reviewed journals, encouraging the dissemination of policy and research. This panel will include the presentation of four papers from network members, each tackling a different aspect of technology-facilitated CSAE. The first paper focuses on the victims, providing a current understanding of how young people experience and navigate online CSAE. The remainder of the papers focus on the perpetrators and the validation of mechanisms to identify, deter, and prevent technology-facilitated CSAE offending. In the second paper this includes examining the use of digital forensic artifacts by police investigators and psychologists for risk assessment, with the third paper exploring the efficacy of a CSAE warning message and chatbot across adult pornography websites. Finally, the fourth paper highlights how AI software and social network analysis can be applied to media files to advance CSAE law enforcement investigations. We hope this panel fosters collaboration across disciplines and strengthens our global network committed to reducing technology-facilitated CSAE.

Subtopic

• Topic 2: Types of Offending / Cybercrime (Cybercrime WG)

Chair

• Russell Brewer, University of Adelaide

Individual Presentations

• Online Sexual Grooming and Abuse Victimisation: A Study of Australian Adolescents - Katie Logos, University of Adelaide; Russell Brewer, University of Adelaide; Kathryn Seigfried-Spellar, Purdue University; Edward Palmer, The University of Adelaide; Bryce Westlake, San Jose State University; Sarah Napier, Australian Institute of Criminology; Mariesa Nicholas, Office of the eSafety Commissioner

• Predicting CSAM-only vs. Dual Offending from Digital Forensic Artifacts - Kathryn Seigfried-Spellar, Purdue University; Marcus K Rogers, Purdue University; Nina Matulis, Purdue University; Jacob S Heasley, Purdue University

• The Effect of a CSAM Deterrence Messaging Chatbot on Pornhub - Joel Scanlan, University of Tasmania; Jeremy Prichard, University of Tasmania; Lauren C Hall, University of Tasmania; Paul Watters, Cyberstronomy; Richard Wortley, The University of Waikato

• Revealing the Social Structure of Child Sexual Abuse Offending using Digital Forensic Artifacts - Russell Brewer, University of Adelaide; Thomas Swearingen, The University of Adelaide; Bryce Westlake, San Jose State University; Katie Logos, University of Adelaide