Latest news with #123RFInternalAffairs
RNZ News
30-04-2025
- RNZ News
More than a million attempts to access child abuse material blocked in 2024
Internal Affairs' web filter - integrated with most internet service providers - blocked 1,032,683 attempts to access websites known to host exploitative material. Photo: 123RF Internal Affairs (DIA) says it blocked more than 1 million attempts to access child sexual exploitation and abuse material last year. Its web filter - integrated with most internet service providers - blocked 1,032,683 attempts to access websites known to host exploitative material. The [ 2024 Digital Child Exploitation Transparency Report] says 2822 of these referrals were [assigned to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). From there, 60 search warrants were executed, 235 devices seized and 13 offenders were successfully prosecuted for possessing, distributing and/or creating objectionable material. DIA digital child exploitation manager Tim Houston said the actions taken led to 14 children being safeguarded from further risk of harm. He said the content being referred to DIA continues to be of "significantly high harm", including child sexual exploitation and abuse, bestiality and necrophilia. "Every day, videos and images are created depicting the violent sexual harm of children for the sexual gratification of offenders. "This content shows the worst moment of a victim's life, and each time it is viewed and shared, they are re-victimised." Many of the remaining investigations that did not lead to a search warrant were handed over to overseas partner agencies and domestic agencies like the New Zealand Police and Customs, Houston said. "Protecting and safeguarding children is at the heart of what we do. The fight against the spread of child sexual abuse material is a collective responsibility." Houston said the DIA's Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System helped safeguard New Zealanders who might inadvertently visit flagged sites. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
23-04-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Internal Affairs seeks new 'face capture solution'
Biometric spoofing is becoming more sophisticated and Internal Affairs is looking for a supplier who can handle the growing threat. File photo. Photo: 123RF Internal Affairs (DIA) says the latest biometric technology it is after does not involve facial recognition. It has put out a new tender for a "new genuine face capture solution", saying this was about getting new online technology that helped people take a good selfie when applying for a passport, or for RealMe verification. "DIA is not seeking a facial recognition solution," it said. "We are talking about online technology capable of capturing high-quality, genuine images." A tender document said biometric spoofing was becoming more sophisticated and it needed a supplier who could handle the growing threat. Its existing tech forced staff to manually review people's photos, and it needed to simplify that and cut costs, it said. A selfie is typically fed into existing systems that already use facial recognition, such as the department's Identity Check service. "Biometric technologies underpin our ability to provide fast, secure and efficient identity verification," DIA said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
