Over the past couple of weeks Nominet, the .uk registry, has announced it will be funding Internet Matters to carry out research into the growing problem of self-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) as well another programme to address the UK’s growing digital skills shortage and pull down the barriers many face trying to enter the rapidly-evolving workforce.
Statistics from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) show an alarming rise in self-generated child sexual abuse imagery (CSAM) detected in the UK in recent years – from 38,500 cases in 2019 up to 182,000 cases in 2021 and 199,000 in 2022. Nearly 80% of all webpages actioned by the IWF in 2022 contained self-generated imagery. Children aged 11-13 appear most frequently in ‘self-generated’ imagery, as in previous years. This is an area of deep concern for child safety experts.
The .uk country code top-level domain (ccTLD) registry’s funding will enable Internet Matters to build on its core activities and conduct focused research into how to prevent the creation and distribution of self-generated CSAM, with a focus on those aged 11-13. Internet Matters’ findings will help inform not only its own work, but the work of the wider online safety sector in combating this issue.
The research team will work with panels of young people, parents and teachers to co-create effective messaging to dissuade young people from requesting, creating and sharing self-generated CSAM. The panels will also explore how best to deliver this prevention messaging, whether through the curriculum, in pastoral interventions, or directly to young people through peers, influencers, campaigns or tech solutions.
For Nominet’s announcement on addressing the UK’s growing digital skills shortage and pulling down the barriers many face trying to enter the rapidly-evolving workforce, the registry has committed to £12m in funding over three years to develop the Click Start programme with The Institute of Coding (IoC), led by the University of Bath. There will be opportunities for over 26,000 learners to take part in the initiative – these could be anyone from veterans looking for a career change, to underrepresented groups who are looking for an introduction to entry level tech and digital roles, to young learners looking to start their careers.
Click Start will consist of a number of targeted, regional projects across the UK, which will support learners into technology and digital roles through skills and education. And, in collaboration with the University of Leeds, Coursera will provide free access to education for 25,000 eligible learners via a scholarship scheme. The courses provided will be designed and built especially for the Click Start programme, with a curated suite of up to 30 courses, with 18 available at launch, focusing on technical training, as well as Coursera’s top professional and personal skills courses, to support them in taking the first steps towards a new digital career.
The majority of learners will receive targeted online technical and professional skills training, employability skills modules, and portals to access further training and employment guidance. While others who experience increased barriers into employment will receive personalised support and engagement programmes delivered by third sector partners. This includes, but isn’t limited to, mentorship, pastoral support, and employability guidance from collaborating groups of local and regional educators, employers, and employability organisations.
The programme is unique in that it brings together Nominet and the IoC’s connections for the first time, with universities, charities, and communities all in partnership with a shared purpose. In addition, Nominet will commit funding to the rigorous monitoring and evaluation of these regional projects in order to create a scalable solution to the digital skills gap and social mobility in the UK.