Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) is creating a database of images showing child exploitation. The database, once completed, will be shared with other tech companies, law enforcement, and charities to clean the internet from such images. The database created by Google will help the groups to share information and scrap the images from the internet.
Google’s Data Base Will Be Ready Within An Year
Not only has the search engine giant decided to curb this proliferation of child pornography but it has decided to completely scrub child porn from the Internet. According to Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), the database will be ready for use within a year.
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) Giving director Jacquelline Fuller wrote in a blog post on Saturday “Behind these images are real, vulnerable kids who are sexually victimized and victimized further through the distribution of their images.” The blog further said that a specific action against such crime should be taken by the community “as as concerned parents, guardians, teachers and companies” to resolve the issue.
Child exploitation on the rise
Over the past few years, images and videos concerning child pornography have sharply increased over the internet. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, in 2011, it received 17.3 million images and videos of suspected child abuse, which is four times of that received in 2007.
Hashing technique
The technology behind creating the database is partially inspired by a technique that the internet giant already uses called “hashing.” The technique tags images with a unique identification code. Using the technique, a system can identify the code helping it to locate, block, and report all the duplicate images on the internet.
Other Tech companies also contributing
In 2006, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) joined other tech companies to fight child pornography, and have since been working towards the cause. The tech group, that has donated millions to nonprofit organizations for the cause, studies how technology can be used to curb child exploitation.
Apart from Google, other tech giants have also been helping one way or the other. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) provided help in developing the hashing technology for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s PhotoDNA program while the social networker uses the technique across its networks to ensure that child pornography is not getting circulating through its platform.
Along with creating a database, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) also announced of donating $5 million for the cause. The money will shared between the global child protection organizations like National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Internet Watch Foundation, Google’s own Child Protection Technology Fund.
