Reflecting on the 41st INTERPOL SGCAC Conference

What is SGCAC
The Specialists Group on Crimes Against Children (SGCAC) is an annual event organized by INTERPOL since more than 40 years. It brings together global experts dedicated to protecting children from exploitation and abuse. Law enforcement professionals, NGOs, international organizations, academics, and private sector representatives collaborate to identify emerging threats, share intelligence, and develop best practices. Through joint innovation and cooperation, the SGCAC strengthens global efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to crimes against children - both online and offline.

Our role as ZiuZ
ZiuZ has been a regular participant in this meeting for many years. We attend the event to update current customers and contacts on the latest developments of Fenoz and AviaTor, and to share how our solutions support the fight against CSAM. What sets this meeting apart from other conferences is the depth of insight provided by those on the front lines of this battle. We bring these insights back to our team to ensure that our solutions continue to reflect the real-world needs of the professionals who use our software.

We were once again reminded of the importance of continuously listening to our (potential) users - those working on the front lines. It was reaffirmed that our software must increasingly be designed to shield investigation teams from the disturbing content they are exposed to, while enabling them to work quickly and efficiently. As a tech company, we must respond swiftly and remain engaged with the broader context in which our solutions are used. Another key takeaway is the critical role of international cooperation in successfully handling cases.

We spent much of our time listening to the professionals on the front lines - how they work, what challenges they face, and what they need. In return, we provided information and facilitated contact for organized software demonstrations.

The entire world was represented at the event, including regions that are new to us, such as Africa and Asia. We are now exploring how we can adapt and extend our solutions to support their specific needs.

Our key takeaways
One participant shared a powerful message during his presentation: "Dream big or go home."

Not every conversation was about work. During lunch, we sat together as a diverse group from many countries, including people working at INTERPOL and others attending training. Moments like these make you realize that, even when the world feels chaotic and reality difficult to manage, there is hope. If we can share a meal and connect - without even knowing each other - we can still achieve great things as humanity, as long as we respect one another’s freedom and safety.

As a tech company, you can’t help but feel small in such a setting. However, since our representatives have very different backgrounds and roles, we had diverse conversations. What made attending as a team valuable, was the ability to engage with different participants and provide answers from various perspectives. But perhaps most importantly, you’re not alone in absorbing the impactful presentations and challenging questions that arise for a tech company.

We left the event feeling inspired and even more motivated to continue fulfilling our responsibility with our software to help protect lives that are being devastated. As a tech company, we must continually listen to those on the front lines of the fight against CSAM, maintain an international focus, and further develop protection mechanisms for those who are confronted daily with the harrowing images of children suffering. It’s also vital that we protect, to the best of our ability, the dignity of both the researchers and the children involved.