The AFP has joined forces with INTERPOL to step up the fight against child exploitation around the world, rolling out the significant enhancement of a critical international database in Melbourne today.

The AFP will contribute $815,000 in funding to INTERPOL to support the implementation of enhanced capabilities for INTERPOL’s International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database.

The ICSE is a ground-breaking tool to advance child exploitation investigations through strengthened global information sharing.

The upgrade of the INTERPOL-managed database, known as ICSE Next Generation, is designed to speed up the process by which investigators identify victims of child exploitation from online child exploitation material seized from offenders or identified in online forums.

Launched 13 years ago and utilised by 68 countries worldwide, the database has identified more than 31,000 victims to date, including 860 victims in Australia. On average, around seven victims are identified every day.

In addition, over 14,000 offenders have been tracked and arrested by law enforcement, including 349 offenders in Australia.

The database is expected to significantly expedite the high volume of work undertaken by victim identification specialists, through integration of the latest technologies for improved text, audio and video analysis, facial recognition, and artificial intelligence.

AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said the AFP’s partnership with INTERPOL to support the upgrade of…