Image Intercept

Image Intercept is the Internet Watch Foundation’s (IWF) purpose-built solution for smaller, eligible companies and startups to proactively detect and block known child sexual abuse images and videos. Using advanced hash-matching technologies, including Microsoft’s PhotoDNA Videntifier’s Descriptor Hashing and conventional cryptographic hashing, Image Intercept helps organisations take meaningful steps toward compliance with the UK’s Online Safety Act while protecting their platforms from abuse.

Designed for ease of use, Image Intercept integrates seamlessly into existing websites and digital platforms, requiring minimal technical effort. Once deployed, it automatically checks every image and video upload against IWF’s extensive database, instantly identifying and preventing known illegal child sexual abuse content. This helps safeguard users, reduce risk, and prevent the further victimisation of children.

At this early stage following launch, the Image Intercept user base remains relatively small, however the figures demonstrate the effectiveness and value of the solution. The platform has been purposely designed for scale and has the capability to incorporate other datasets over time. 

To date, this has resulted in 16,339 confirmed hash matches of known child sexual abuse imagery.

This number of positive child sexual abuse matches is particularly significant for companies that do not fit within our current membership model.