Sweetie
For many years, cyber related and undercover research have been central to Terre des Hommes' Sweetie and Watch programmes. After thorough analysis, we have come to the conclusion that this type of activity does not align with Terre des Hommes' mission, and has been conflicting with the organisation's ethical standards and codes of conduct.
Terre des Hommes stops undercover and cyber activities
For many years, cyber related and undercover research have been central to Terre des Hommes' Sweetie and Watch programmes. After thorough analysis, we have come to the conclusion that this type of activity does not align with Terre des Hommes' mission, and has been conflicting with the organisation's ethical standards and codes of conduct.
Therefore, our focus within these programs was on detecting abusers instead of protecting the (eventual) victims. The decision has been made to stop the activities related to cyber and undercover research.
Protection of children
Terre des Hommes will continue to fight for the protection of children; against online sexual exploitation of children and its implications; and the issues around traveling sex offenders, but this will be done in other ways. Terre des Hommes will continue to protect vulnerable children. Furthermore Terre des Hommes will raise awareness as well as build knowledge and capacities of the formal institutions responsible for child protection, tracking of perpetrators and law enforcement.
The origins of Sweetie
Working with international specialists, Sweetie was developed in 2013 as a software system that was used worldwide to research and fight webcam sex with children. ‘Sweetie’ was a ten-year-old virtual Filipino girl. Her highly life-like image appeared online in chat rooms and on dating sites. When men started talking with her in a sexually suggestive way, she engaged back. All the information from their exchanges was stored and used to warn, track down or even arrest and convict perpetrators.
Using a chatbot, the software could be deployed 24/7 to identify potential perpetrators in multiple chat rooms simultaneously, deter them or, if necessary, have them arrested and prosecuted by transferring our suspect case files to the police. We did the latter by handing over complete suspect files to the police. We also helped with safe shelter for children who had become victims and we focused on prevention.
Expansion to Sweetie 24/7
In no time, Sweetie was already in contact with 1,000 men. The result was so shocking that it caused outrage worldwide. Terre des Hommes took online child sexual abuse out of obscurity for good. Due to the growing internet use worldwide, online sexual exploitation also increased sharply. In the Philippines alone, local police estimate that tens of thousands of children were victims of this. This terrible phenomenon also occurs in other countries in Southeast Asia. To stop this terrible form of child exploitation, Sweetie was expanded to 'Sweetie 24/7', in the countries of Cambodia, Nepal and Kenya.
Results Sweetie project
Sweetie's efforts led to many results in the years 2013-2022:
- There is now global awareness of online child abuse.
- Laws have been amended to allow fake online profiles, such as that of Sweetie, to lure potential perpetrators.
- Countless children have been protected and rescued from abuse. They have received care and help.
- Potential perpetrators have been identified and deterred.
- Child traffickers and abusers have been arrested, prosecuted and convicted.
With the accumulated knowledge and the advancing insights, we have decided to take a different course from 2022. We continue to fight for the protection of children and against the problem of online sexual exploitation of children and travelling child abusers.