This talk is part of a two-presentation session running from 2:50 PM - 3:40 PM. The session will feature two presentations back-to-back, with Q&A after each presentation.

For survivors of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), the fact that their abuse was recorded and distributed online adds ongoing layers of trauma. Digital platforms must be actively engaged in preventing and disrupting these harms, with trust and safety efforts that are grounded in survivors’ perspectives. Toward this goal, we present findings from international surveys of 281 adult CSAM survivors, centering on their experiences 1) requesting platforms remove the abuse imagery and 2) being recognized due to the abuse imagery. Most survivors hadn’t requested removals, for reasons including unclear reporting options, and of those who did request removals, none described positive experiences. Nearly all survivors worried someone would recognize them from the abuse imagery and then harm them; for some, these fears had already materialized—both online and offline. We will discuss data-driven recommendations to reduce the availability of abuse imagery on digital platforms, and in turn, promote survivors’ safety.