COMMUNICATIONS ALLIANCE SUPPORTS THE VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLES TO COUNTER ONLINE CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE

Sydney, 24 June 2020:  Communications Alliance warmly welcomes and supports the recently launched Voluntary Principles to Counter Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. The Voluntary Principles were developed by the Five Eyes Country Governments (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States), in close consultation with leading technology companies and a broad range of experts from industry, civil society and academia. They aim at guiding efforts across the globe to safeguard children on online platforms and services.

“Our industry is committed to the Principles. In fact, our members have a long-standing record of closely cooperating with law enforcement agencies and the Office of the eSafety Commissioner in the fight against the abuse of the most vulnerable in society, our children,” said Communications Alliance CEO, John Stanton.

“The communications and platforms industry is very alert to the risks that children can be exposed to on the internet and will continue to devote significant resources on effective and innovative ways to make the internet a safer space for all Australians, especially for children and other vulnerable people.

“It is critical that our industry, together with other sectors such as education, and Government continue to collaboratively drive and foster a proactive, comprehensive and global response to online child exploitation and abuse,” Mr Stanton concluded.

ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS ALLIANCE
Communications Alliance is the primary communications industry body in Australia. Its membership is drawn from a wide cross-section of the communications industry, including carriers, carriage and internet service providers, content providers, platform providers, equipment vendors, IT companies, consultants and business groups.

Its vision is to be the most influential association in Australian communications, co-operatively initiating programs that promote sustainable industry development, innovation and growth, while generating positive outcomes for customers and society. 

The prime mission of Communications Alliance is to create a co-operative stakeholder environment that allows the industry to take the lead on initiatives which grow the Australian communications industry, enhance the connectivity of all Australians and foster the highest standards of business behaviour.  For more details about Communications Alliance, see www.commsalliance.com.au.

Media information contact:
Sefiani
Aprille Lim  alim@sefiani.com.au
0413 317 788