Google Developing Global Database to Block Child Porn
After some pressure by UK Prime Minister David Cameron (pictured) and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), Google has stepped up its efforts to block images of child pornography on the Internet. According to The Telegraph, Google engineers are developing technology and a database that will be enable search engines and other web companies to freely exchange data about such images, which is a first.
Google has been “hashing” images of child sex abuse for years, which has enabled it to track any corresponding images. “Each offending image in effect gets a unique fingerprint that our computers can recognize without humans having to view them again,” said Google chief legal officer David Drummond.
You go, Google
However, until now, the hashing technology didn’t allow for sharing between entities; the new technology will allow Google--and any number of other companies and agencies--to have a shared, cross-industry database that will allow them to better eradicate those tagged images from the Internet. Additionally, Google is setting up a fund of $2 million to help ISVs build new tools to help combat child porn on the Internet.
Anything that helps limit the exploitation of innocent kids is something to support, in our book. Get after it Google, and cheers to PM Cameron.
Google has been “hashing” images of child sex abuse for years, which has enabled it to track any corresponding images. “Each offending image in effect gets a unique fingerprint that our computers can recognize without humans having to view them again,” said Google chief legal officer David Drummond.
You go, Google
However, until now, the hashing technology didn’t allow for sharing between entities; the new technology will allow Google--and any number of other companies and agencies--to have a shared, cross-industry database that will allow them to better eradicate those tagged images from the Internet. Additionally, Google is setting up a fund of $2 million to help ISVs build new tools to help combat child porn on the Internet.
Anything that helps limit the exploitation of innocent kids is something to support, in our book. Get after it Google, and cheers to PM Cameron.
