Full Access to the Child Rescue Coalition
Episode 5
Listen in as Glen Pounder grants you full access to what the Child Rescue Coalition, its mission, and what you can do to help keep children safe.
Today on Full Access we’re discussing topics related to child sexual abuse material, also known as CSAM and child pornography. We’re addressing these topics as they pertain to law enforcement and other organizations combatting this horrific crime. We are informing you now that there is discussion of graphic content during this episode of Full Access. We hope you choose to listen and learn with us but understand if you choose not to do so. Let’s begin…
[01:39] Meet Glen Pounder, the Chief Operations Officer at the Child Rescue Coalition (CRC).
- Pounder discusses his background working for the UK National Crime Agency
- Pounder explains being posted to the US and working with the Child Rescue Coalition
- The mission of the CRC is to give free cutting-edge technology to law enforcement worldwide that enables them to locate, identify, and arrest criminals who have an illegal sexual interest in children
[03:25] Garner explains some of the acronyms they’ll use when discussing the subject matter of this episode, and how terms vary across states in the US.
- Pounder advises listeners that they’re referring to brutal and violent crimes committed against children ages 12 and younger
- The CRC is looking for, finding, and tagging CSAM images for law enforcement
- Pounder explains as awful as it is we must acknowledge it and fight to stop it
[06:00] The history of CRC technology.
- Pounder talks to listeners about the CRC founder’s father, Hank Asher, was known as the “grandfather of big data” and he created a lot of the systems still used by law enforcement today
- Pounder discusses how Carly Yoost, founder of the CRC, established the nonprofit because her father always wanted his technology to be free to law enforcement
- Garner explains that it takes philanthropists like this to fund anti child exploitation initiatives – and how important it is because it’s what law enforcement uses to help work these types of cases
[10:22] Wilton Cleveland asks Pounder to explain the training that CRC provides to law enforcement.
- Pounder covers the three-day training course the CRC provides
- There’s a quick turnaround from learning to using the technology
- Cleveland notes that the CRC travels around the world to provide training
[13:20] Cleveland and Pounder recall what is what like when they each started doing forensics.
- Cleveland says it was like drinking water out of a firehose
- Pounder recalls the high-tech crime team back in the day and notes appreciate for GrayKey and how it allows law enforcement to obtain evidence because almost all crimes involve some form of technology today
- Garner recalls what it was like to be a student of one of the CRC’s training courses
[14:55] Why does the CRC exist and what type of data do they collect?
- Pounder discloses that the CRC collects around 40 million records per day and how it’s used to GEO locate targets
- Pounder describes how easy the technology is to use as a law enforcement professional with no technical background
- Garner drives homes that you don’t have to be trained in digital forensics to use CRC technology
[17:04] Pounder shares some interesting CRC statistics.
- Pounder states that the CRC has been involved with law enforcement in nearly 20,000 arrests
- Pounder states that the CRC hs been involved in well over 3000 child rescues
- Pounder goes into different types of cases, criminals, and offenders
[17:04] Pounder states the importance of not losing sight of the number of effective revictimization offenses that take place.
- Pounder provides an example. Listener discretion is advised. If you would like to skip this story, jump to minute 20:33.
[21:40] Garner asks Pounder to explain what the CRC data shows about those who seek out CSAM and those who are actively abusing children.
- Pounder talks about a study the CRC is currently conducting that may reveal some further insights into the question Garner asked
- Pounder says that some studies say 55% of those consuming CSAM material are also hands on abusers; some studies say 85%
- Pounder says that 100% of those people are criminals because consuming CSAM material is not a victimless crime
[22:40] Pounder throws a question at Garner about what it’s like from the investigator’s side having to view these materials when working these cases.
- Garner explains that one of the first things you learn as an ICAC investigator is to turn the sound off
- Cleveland says that sometimes you have to keep the sound on but it magnifies the horror of what’s happening
- Pounder says it would be great if Grayshift could develop one of those pens from Men In Black to help investigators forget
[25:26] Cleveland asks Pounder to discuss his time with UK National Crime Agency prior to the Child Rescue Coalition.
- Pounder discusses his UK National Crime Agency background and working six years in Portugal as the British liaison officer for crime between Portugal and the UK
- Pounder touches on the work they did against the Columbian Cartels and cocaine trafficking
- Pounder discusses a missing child case that had a profound impact on him
[28:34] Pounder volunteers to be a dedicated liaison officer to deal with child protection investigations.
- Pounder has been focused on child protection cases for a decade now
- Pounder talks about leaving the Queen’s service after 30 years to join the Child Rescue Coalition
- Cleveland touches on the emotional strength it takes to consistently work cases that impact children for such a long time
[31:44] Garner asks Pounder to discuss being a panelist during the Congressional Briefing on Safer Internet Day regarding the the EARN IT Act.
- The EARN IT act protects children from rampant child sexual abuse on technology platforms
- Pounder explains the important aspects of the EARN IT Act
- Pounder recalls the first time he got to kick a door in on a CSAM case
- Wilton, Cleveland, and Pounder discuss other acts and potential acts of legislation across Europe and the US
[40:30] Garner asks Pounder what advice he would give to parents about safety online.
- Educate yourself about what makes an app dangerous: Does it allow contact with strangers? Does it allow direct messaging? Does it allow for sending images and videos?
- Keep an open line of communication with your kids so they know they can come to you with anything and that they’re not going to be in trouble for confiding in you
To support the Child Rescue Coalition, please visit https://childrescuecoalition.org/ where you can donate, volunteer to assemble care packages, or purchase something from the merchandise store. There’s an option for anyone who wants to get involved to give back.
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