Report child sexual abuse material and keep the evidence

How to do it

In the United States, 18 U.S.C. 2258A makes providers report apparent child sexual abuse material to the NCMEC CyberTipline as soon as reasonably possible. The REPORT Act of 2024 raised the time to preserve a reported item from 90 days to one year. The preserved copy must sit in a secure place that few people can reach. In the EU, report to the police or the national body your country names. Article 18 of the Digital Services Act adds threats to life. Use a hash matching service, such as PhotoDNA or an industry hash list, before the item is stored for others to see. Never forward, download or share the material, even inside the team. Remove the item, suspend the account and store the evidence in a separate store with its own access log. Control who opens it as Show moderators only what the case needs says.

Examples

JavaScript example

export async function screenUpload(upload) {
  const match = await hashService.match(upload.bytes);
  if (!match) return { allowed: true };
  await evidence.preserve(upload, { retentionDays: 365 });
  await cases.open({ itemType: 'upload', itemId: upload.id, reason: 'child-safety', severity: 1 });
  await accounts.suspend(upload.ownerId, 'child-safety');
  return { allowed: false };
}

Python example

def screen_upload(upload) -> bool:
    match = hash_service.match(upload.data)
    if not match:
        return True
    evidence.preserve(upload, retention_days=365)
    cases.open(item_type="upload", item_id=upload.id, reason="child-safety", severity=1)
    accounts.suspend(upload.owner_id, "child-safety")
    return False

How to check

Upload the test image that your hash service provides for testing. The upload is blocked, a severity 1 case opens and a report draft is created. The evidence store refuses reads from every role except the named reviewers, and its retention is at least 365 days.

Sources

• 18 U.S.C. 2258A
• REPORT Act, Public Law 118-59

Related rules

• TNS-5 Limit what moderators must see of harmful content in Trust and safety
• TNS-14 Show moderators only what the case needs in Trust and safety
• TNS-9 Hide removed content and keep it until appeals close in Trust and safety