The Tech Coalition and Safe Online were proud to host the 2024 Tech Coalition Safe Online Research Fund Convening in London on October 1. Over 50 attendees were present, representing all 13 grant projects from the Tech Coalition Safe Online Research Fund as well as more than a dozen leading tech companies. The Convening successfully combined research insights with industry expertise to drive outcomes that will protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse.
Insights from Experts
During the event, attendees heard from numerous expert panelists from both industry and academia. Industry members shared their thoughts on topics such as the value of independent research and what makes research actionable. In many cases, actionable research answers a relevant and defined research question, and is valuable as solid evidence when making the case for certain child safety changes.
Researchers were able to answer questions about how they determine research questions and methodology, as well as how they view their interplay with industry. They generally strove to fill gaps in the existing literature, with the work fully centered on protecting kids. Researchers commonly highlighted the need for cooperation with industry, with them being capable of implementing recommendations and informing future research projects.
Each Tech Coalition Safe Online Research Fund grantee was also given an opportunity to share an update on their research progress. Projects from the Fund cover a diverse range of topics, from moderator wellness to grooming prevention to deterrence and help seeking and much more. These presentations were followed with lightning round small group discussions for attendees to dig in further to each project.
Impact of the Research Fund
Panelists and speakers also discussed the impact of the Research Fund, further showcasing its role in advancing online child safety research. Based on conversations with researchers, they highlight how the Fund has enabled impact in the following key areas:
- Global Community Building & Collaboration: Connecting grantees across regions, fostering partnerships and knowledge sharing.
- Academic & Industry Integration: Bridging academic research with industry, promoting access to industry and practical collaboration.
- Institutional Strengthening & Broadening: Expanding grantees' scope and capacity for larger projects.
- Policy & Public Awareness Impact: Influencing national, regional policies and raising public awareness on online child safety.
- Addressing Gaps in the Evidence Landscape: Filling research gaps, especially in underserved areas and emerging issues.
Workshopping Applications and Action
The centerpiece of the Convening was a series of interactive workshop discussions in diverse small groups. These sessions identified challenges, opportunities, and potential impacts of research with guiding questions like the following:
- What are gray areas for industry vs. researchers in this field?
- What are existing barriers to research / tech industry exchange?
- What solutions do we already know that can make research actionable and facilitate collaboration?
A number of themes emerged from these discussions:
- Research needs to continue to be incorporated into a broader range of roles within industry companies.
- Mechanisms for exchange are needed that maintain the independence of research while also facilitating engagement with industry throughout the research process, not just at dissemination.
- Ethical and data privacy concerns are a constant consideration when it comes to engaging with research.
- Forming connections between industry and researchers is key to facilitating future partnerships; time and trust are necessary.
The Tech Coalition and Safe Online are always working to drive action on all those themes. This Convening generated new connections to be nurtured into potential partnerships. It was also held alongside the Tech Coalition’s Initiate Hackathon, to allow the largest ever engineering presence at this event. And as the Tech Coalition Safe Online Research Fund considers new projects in Generative AI, pre-existing partnerships with industry have been a major consideration.
We were proud to convene such an essential group of stakeholders. We also thank Google for hosting us at their London offices. Research has been and continues to be one of the key drivers of progress in preventing online child sexual exploitation and abuse, and we look forward to using the learnings from this event to drive forward further.