Information Technology
Internet Watch Foundation and Public Interest Registry Extend Online Safety Initiative to Disrupt Criminal 'brands' Selling Child Sexual Abuse
CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom , Oct. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Public Interest Registry (PIR), the US non-profit that operates the .ORG Top-Level Domain, and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) have announced a new partnership which will empower Domain Name Registrars to disrupt sites dedicated to the commercial distribution and exploitation of online child sexual abuse material.
A registrar is an accredited organisation which sells domain names to the public. Through the expanded partnership with PIR and IWF, all registrars will now be able to access IWF's powerful tools to disrupt the distribution of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) online at no cost. This will help registrars spot when criminal organisations which commercialise child sexual abuse imagery are attempting to set up "brands" with websites registered and used under different top-level domains and notify them when CSAM has been identified.
Domains specifically registered and used for the commercial distribution of child sexual abuse imagery are a deliberate abuse of the Domain Name System (DNS).
By signing up to the program, registrars will be alerted to the existence of dedicated commercial websites. This proactive approach could further disrupt the criminal abuse by making it more difficult for criminal organisations to register sites online.
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Under the sponsorship, registrars will be able to sign up for free access to the IWF Domain Alerts program which provides real-time alerts if child sexual abuse content is detected on a domain they manage to allow for fast removal of content before it is further spread online.
This is an extension of an existing sponsorship which began in February 2024 which saw PIR sponsor other registries and registry service providers with free access to two important IWF services, Domain Alerts and the TLD (Top-Level Domain) Hopping List.
The increased access to these services helped ensure faster, more streamlined disruption to child sexual abuse imagery identified by the IWF and enable quick action to be taken to stop criminals hopping from one domain to another to keep their content online.
Since the initiative began in 2024, 30 registries – amounting to nearly 60 TLDs and more than 53 million domains – have benefitted from the sponsorship, greatly increasing the use of IWF services in this area.
Now, PIR is extending that sponsorship with the IWF to cover domain name registrars in addition to the existing sponsorship for registries which will continue.
Do report only once for each web address – or URL. Repeat reporting of the same URL isn't needed and wastes analysts' time.
Notes to editors:
The IWF is the largest hotline in Europe dedicated to finding and removing child sexual abuse material from the internet.
Josh Thomas , Press Manager, josh@iwf.org.uk +44 (0) 7377 727058
We make the internet a safer place. We help victims of child sexual abuse worldwide by identifying and removing online images and videos of their abuse. We search for child sexual abuse images and videos and offer a place for the public to report them anonymously. We then have them removed. We're a not for profit organisation and are supported by the global internet industry.
For more information please visit www.iwf.org.uk.
The IWF is part of the UK Safer Internet Centre , working with Childnet International and the South West Grid for Learning to promote the safe and responsible use of technology.
The IWF works globally to stop child sexual abuse imagery on the internet. If you ever stumble across a sexual image or video of someone you think is under 18, please report to the IWF . Reporting can be done anonymously and confidentially – we don't need your details, just your help.
Public Interest Registry (PIR) is a nonprofit that operates the .ORG top-level domain—one of the world's largest generic top-level domains with more than 11 million domain names registered worldwide. .ORG is open to everyone, providing a global platform for organizations, associations, clubs, businesses and individuals to bring their ideas to life. PIR has been a champion for a free and open Internet for two decades with a clear mission to be an exemplary domain name registry, provide a trusted digital identity and help educate those who dedicate themselves to improving our world. PIR was founded by the Internet Society (internetsociety.org) in 2002 and is based in Reston, Virginia , USA. Visit www.pir.org for more information.
Media contact: pir@berlinrosen.com
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/internet-watch-foundation-and-public-interest-registry-extend-online-safety-initiative-to-disrupt-criminal-brands-selling-child-sexual-abuse-302590826.html