Converge ICT Solutions Inc. reports a dramatic increase in attempts to access illegal websites in 2024, attributing the surge to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by hackers and malicious actors. The company blocked 183 billion attempts, with nearly 98% involving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Converge emphasizes the need for AI-powered solutions to combat this growing threat and stresses the importance of consumer education in preventing online exploitation.
Attempts to access child pornography and other illegal websites surged last year, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) likely played a significant role in the increase, according to Converge ICT Solutions Inc. The company reported blocking 183 billion attempts to visit illicit websites through its network in 2024, a dramatic jump from the 10- to 12-billion average observed between 2021 and 2023. Converge currently flags approximately 683,000 URLs as illegal.
\Andrew Malijan, Converge's Chief Information Security Officer, explained that they added 150,000 URLs to their system last year, based on reports from government agencies and private entities, labeling them as illicit or unlawful. The heavy traffic to these newly flagged URLs resulted in nearly 20 times more blocked attempts in 2024 compared to previous years. Malijan attributed the increase to AI, stating that hackers and malicious actors are no longer relying on manual methods. \Most of the blocked attempts targeted websites categorized as hosting child sexual abuse materials (CSAM)/online sexual abuse or exploitation of children (Osaec), phishing, online gambling, and voyeurism. CSAM/Osaec accounted for almost 98 percent of the total attempts, followed by online gambling. Eugene Yao, Converge's Chief Executive Adviser, believes that the surge in attempts is likely driven by AI, as malicious actors leverage its capabilities. He emphasizes the need to adopt AI-powered solutions to identify and combat these threats effectively. Yao stresses that educating consumers remains the most crucial defense against online exploitation. Converge actively campaigns against child exploitation, partnering with organizations like the Stairway Foundation in the Philippines to promote children's rights. They implemented a policy to block illicit content on their network in 2023 and collaborate with law enforcement agencies and international organizations to enhance their database of illegal content
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