LinkForensics: enabling a proactive stance against illicit content sharing

With the LinkForensics project, our goal has always been clear: to automatically assess the risks associated with a particular link, identify whether its true purpose involves the sharing of harmful and illegal content, and identify the most effective next steps possible.

Today, I'm thrilled to share the progress we've made so far. I want to highlight how this new tool is already being used to provide a proactive approach that supports the investigators, and victims, who need it most.

What’s new?

With LinkForensics, our initial mission focused on creating a robust classifier capable of distinguishing between benign content and harmful link pathways.

Since the project was first announced, we’ve made great strides in navigating the core challenges involved in identifying links and assessing threats. We’ve been able to build a system that can traverse complex link networks effectively, and handle various diversions and obstacles typically employed to complicate and disrupt link pathways, ensuring that we can accurately determine the final destination – and purpose – of a link.

Exploring new real-world applications

While other LinkForensics work is ongoing, we’ve identified several real-world applications, and have already seen our tool bring tangible benefits.

One of the most impactful use cases identified involves directly helping investigators in their ongoing research into file-sharing networks.

Traditionally, investigators spend a significant amount of time manually following links on web forums and other sites to determine if they lead to illegal content. This process is not only time-consuming but also challenging due to various tactics used to hide the true nature of the content.

LinkForensics automates this investigative work, allowing users to start from a page with numerous links and quickly narrow down to the most suspicious ones. For example, a law enforcement officer can now input 50 suspected links, and LinkForensics will return a prioritised list of the top 10 links that require further investigation.

This saves valuable time and ensures that benign content is identified and separated from potentially harmful material.

We’re also working with a law enforcement users who actively monitor specific forums to identify and expose malicious users. By integrating LinkForensics into their workflow, we can significantly boost efficiency and ability to uncover illegal content. This has increased efficiency tenfold, making it a game-changer in efforts to combat online threats.

A proactive approach to combating illicit content sharing

At its core, LinkForensics gives our users the ability to adopt a proactive approach in the fight against illicit content sharing.

Traditionally, it's a fight that’s been largely reactive, with investigators responding to reports and following leads. We wanted to change this dynamic, with LinkForensics’s ‘search and destroy’ mindset allowing for preemptive action.

This mindset is vital to combat the ongoing victimisation of individuals whose content is shared without consent. Every view of illicit content represents a new instance of harm for a victim; perpetuating their trauma in the process. By identifying and disrupting these link pathways early, LinkForensics helps to:

• Reduce the spread of illicit content
• Flag harmful links
• Detect and issue quick takedown notices
• Stop the circulation of illegal material before it can cause further damage
• Deter anyone attempting to share such material

The future of LinkForensics

Looking ahead, we want LinkForensics to offer a proactive approach to users committed to taking down illicit content.

Through continuous research and development efforts, we want to push the technical limits of this concept to find even more applications where it can make a true difference. Working closely with end users, we’re already refining and expanding LinkForensics’s functionalities, and we can’t wait to share more about this project when we’re able to.

By swiftly identifying and disrupting the distribution of illicit material, we can make a real difference in reducing the harm caused to these individuals.

Committed to driving positive change

As we continue to develop and deploy new tools to help investigators in the field, we remain dedicated to our mission to create a safer digital world for everyone.

Learn more about LinkForensics, and other initiatives under the Safety Tech Challenge programme, in the full official announcement today.