One Click Hosting

The internet makes it easy to share files and content — including illegal material. On the dark web and in other shadowy online forums, individuals with a sexual interest in children exchange abuse material with each other. However, because the anonymisation technologies they use often limit transfer speeds, the actual uploading and downloading of files frequently takes place on the clear web – through so-called One Click Hosting services.

These are websites that allow users to upload and share files quickly and easily via links, without registration or complex setup. Many companies around the world offer such services. They usually have terms of service prohibiting the distribution of child abuse material, and some are located in countries where providers are legally required to report such material to the authorities. In practice, however, there is little or no monitoring or enforcement.

The Norwegian Police work systematically to identify child sexual abuse material shared through such links and to notify the service providers about the content. The goal is to encourage providers to take greater responsibility for removing illegal files. It is important to make it harder to access such material and to stop the ongoing exploitation of children that occurs when these files are shared.

Approach

The Norwegian Police have developed a technical platform to make the process of collecting and reporting links to child sexual abuse material more efficient. The method works as follows:

• Abuse forums are monitored to find links to child sexual abuse material
• The content is downloaded and verified in accordance with INTERPOL’s criteria
• Service providers are notified, with reference to their own terms of service
• New notifications are sent until the illegal material is removed
• If there is no response, higher levels in the internet infrastructure are notified

Most service providers remove files quickly once they are alerted. Some also delete all other content from the same user.

Identified abuse material is added to a national database, together with files previously deemed illegal by the police in past investigations. Known files in the database are automatically recognised in new investigations, saving valuable time. Unknown images and videos — which may help identify victims and perpetrators — are forwarded to investigators.

One Click Hosting is a priority crime area within Europol through the EU cooperation initiative EMPACT. The Norwegian Police work together with the Netherlands Police and other European law enforcement agencies to further develop the project and increase capacity, including expanded automation and the use of artificial intelligence.