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New web crawler being used to detect and track child pornography

New web crawler being used to detect and track child pornography | iNFOnews.ca
Credit: iStock

WINNIPEG – A new online tool is being used to detect and help remove child pornography from the Internet.

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection has unveiled a program called Project Arachnid, which crawls the web in search of images of child exploitation.

The Winnipeg-based charity says the automated program, run on a bank of servers, can currently scan 150 web pages a second.

It compares any images and digital information found to reports by police agencies around the world.

Officials say in its first six weeks, the program has processed 230 million web pages and found 40,000 different images of child sexual abuse.

When offensive material is found, Internet service providers are notified to take it down and authorities are alerted.

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Howard Alexander

Assistant Editor Howard Alexander comes to iNFOnews.ca from the broadcasting side of the media business.

Howard has been a reporter, news anchor, talk show host and news director, first in Saskatchewan and then the Okanagan.

He moved his family to Vernon in the 90s and is proud to call the Okanagan home.

If you have an event to share contact Howard at 250-309-5343or email halexander@infonews.ca.

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