Interpol adopts a resolution to combat online child abuse

ISTANBUL (AP) – Interpol member states urge nations to urge local online-end-to-end encryption providers to “take responsibility” …

ISTANBUL (AP) – Interpol member states are urging nations to urge local online-end-to-end encryption providers to “take responsibility” and design products aimed at protecting children from abuse, the International Police Bureau said on Wednesday.

A resolution adopted at Interpol’s annual general meeting in Istanbul also calls on member states to pass laws enabling local law enforcement to prevent and respond to online cases of child sexual abuse using technology. The resolution was adopted on the second day of the three-day meeting, according to a statement from Interpol.

“Through the resolution, member states expressed their concern about the increased use of end-to-end encryption to conceal illegal online crimes against children such as grooming, livestreaming of sexual abuse and distribution of material on child sexual abuse,” Interpol said.

The resolution was overwhelmingly approved by delegates, the statement said. About 470 police chiefs, ministers and other representatives from more than 160 countries are attending the meeting.

The statement quoted Interpol general secretary Juergen Stock as saying: “This issue is often presented as a zero-sum game, privacy versus child protection, but both can be protected.”

“With design security, service providers can meet confidentiality obligations and also ensure that new technologies do not come at the expense of child safety,” Stock said.

Interpol said end-to-end encryption technology prevents service providers “from detecting child sexual abuse and from complying with lawful requests from law enforcement agencies seeking to investigate cases, arrest offenders and remove child victims from harm.”

Police are scheduled to hold a closely monitored election for a new leadership on Thursday.

The first ever Chinese president of the international police body, Meng Hongwei, disappeared midway through his four-year term on a return trip to China in 2018. It subsequently emerged that he had been detained, charged with bribery and other alleged crimes. Interpol then announced that Meng had resigned from the presidency.

A vice president, Kim Jong Yan from South Korea, was elected as a replacement for the remainder of Meng’s term.

The vote is also the subject of controversy, as representatives from China and the United Arab Emirates are bidding for top positions. Critics argue that if these candidates win, their countries will use Interpol’s global reach to apprehend dissidents in exile and even political opponents at home, instead of chasing drug traffickers, human traffickers, war crimes suspects and alleged extremists.

Human rights groups have also accused the UAE candidate of involvement in torture and arbitrary detention.

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