Author: Spencer Akerman CSE Analyst at South West Regional Organised Crime Unit Spencer.Akerman@avonandsomerset.pnn.police.uk Month: September This document contains apps/websites of note that have appeared in Child Sexual Exploitation or Abuse cases in the Southwest region for the month stated above. The document may also contain apps/websites that are prominent in other regions or are believed to be an emerging issue. If you have any apps you believe may be used in the facilitation of CSE/A please send an email to the above address. For the latest social media library created by Jasvinder Chohhan (jasvinder.chohhan@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk) or the latest version of the Social media APP bulletin please visit https://www.zephyrswrocu.org.uk/home/cse

This Private Photo Calculator app, calculator%, is designed to help people hide photos and videos behind an innocent looking calculator app. There are many versions of vault apps; secret calculator, secret calculator vault and smart hide calculator to name just a few. Vault Apps have been around for a while (at least 2011) and are increasingly common as smartphones gained popularity. This application looks like a typical calculator app but once you enter a passcode inside the app you unlock the true purpose of the app: typically to store inappropriate content! All files are securely stored in the app and cannot be viewed in the default iPhone camera roll. Within Devon and Cornwall this app had been used by one young person to store and indecent image that they then shared with another young person. If  a young person has more than one calculator app on their device, that’s a sign a vault app may be used. Whatever is stored inside the Vault App will not be accessible in the Photo Gallery where photos and videos are normally stored. Calculator%

The Truth or Dare app is a standard game of truth and dare, where people join the same game and the app randomly selects either a truth or dare, from over 200, depending on the players choice. These will contain adult content to the truths and dares, aimed at adults, however the app only has an age rating of PEGI 12. Within Devon and Cornwall this has been used at a gathering of children and led to the sexual assault of a female. Truth or Dare

Musical.ly is a performance and video sharing social network that mostly features teens lip syncing and dancing to famous songs but also includes some original song writing and singing. ‘Musers’, as devoted users are called, can build up a following among friends or share posts publicly. Musical.ly has previously featured on this bulletin however recently there has been an increased volume of reports regarding children being targeted while using this app. The MO consists of targeting of younger girls to expose themselves for likes or prizes within the app as a reward. The video or pictures are then uploaded to a separate public account not under the victims control. Musical.ly

Although young people are more likely to use apps when it comes to hiding their pictures, applications, text messages, and other data on their smartphones, it is still important to know what devices offer in terms of hiding apps and content. On the iPhone, you can hide applications by going into the Settings > General > Restrictions and checking off next to applications that you don’t want to show up on the screen. To make them reappear, you can go back and repeat the process. Androids offer the same option of hiding apps from the home screen. You can do so by going to the Settings>Applications>application manager> “All Tab” and choosing apps that you would like to hide and click disable. On newer operating systems this can be achieved by dragging apps to the remove shortcuts bin (however the apps will appear on the apps shortcut). Just like on the iPhone, you will have to repeat the process to unhide the apps. The app Apex launcher is also a vault application used for this purpose and is installed by default on some models.

With the internet and apps evolving every week it can be easy to feel like technology is moving too fast for us, however it doesn’t change the fact that young people will always seek to interact with technology and will always require our advice and support when online. Below are a number of resources to help educate adults and young people around the issue of online safety and app security: The UK safer internet centre; where you can find e-safety tips, advice and resources to help children and young people stay safe online. The Revenge porn hotline; the only organisation providing such a service in the UK, providing support and advice to the victims of the non-consensual sharing of intimate images and cyber-enabled blackmail (known as sextortion). POSH (The Professionals Online Safety Helpline); The Professionals Online Safety Helpline is a free service for all professionals and volunteers working with children and young people. It provides signposting, advice and mediation to resolve online safety issues staff face about themselves, such as protecting professional identity and online harassment, or problems affecting young people, for example cyber-bullying or sexting issues. Where appropriate we can also provide advice or facilitate in the removal on harmful content. POSH have created good relationships with many of the giant tech companies and are a great place to start if you have any concerns with a particular site or App. UK Safer internet centre Professionals Online Safety Helpline Revenge porn helpline Protecting young people from online grooming Please support the Revenge Porn hotline crowdfunding campaign www.crowdfunder.co.uk/revenge-porn-helpline