MOSCOW, November 18 (RAPSI) - Google has put upwards of 200 people to the task of developing state-of-the-art technology aimed at tackling the problem of pedophilia on the Internet, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt vowed in an article he penned for the Daily Mail, [UK] published Thursday.

In light of hundreds of arrests announced last week as part of a mass child-exploitation investigation, Schmidt announced that the internet giant is doing everything in its power to protect children from such harm.

First, Schmidt announced that Google has cleaned up its search engine in expanded efforts to prevent child exploitation footage from showing up in the results section.
Second, it has launched a warning system, resulting in the display of a public service announcement each time one of upwards of 13,000 search queries is entered.

According to the article, such alerts will specify clearly the illegality of child porn, and will offer tips on where to find help.

Third, when child exploitation footage is discovered, each such image will receive a fingerprint that will allow for the identification of users that view them.

Fourth, Schmidt announced that Google plans to second computer engineers to US- and UK-based advocacy groups targeting child exploitation. Google further vowed to fund internships at the organizations for other engineers.

On Thursday, Canada’s Toronto Police Service announced that 341 people had been arrested and 386 children had been rescued from exploitation as the result of a three-year investigation targeting international child exploitation.

According to the police statement, the service’s Child Exploitation Section got in touch with a Toronto man who had allegedly shared images of sexual abuse being committed against children. Concluding upon investigating the matter that the man might be operating a movie production and distribution company centering on child exploitation, the police service teamed up with the United States Postal Inspection Service to expand its investigative efforts.

On May 1, 2011, a man was arrested on allegations that he had been operating a website that sold and distributed child exploitation films and images worldwide, According to the statement, he had paid different people to film the children featured in these films, which were in turn sold on the website. The company earned revenues of upwards of $4 million, according to the statement.

Toronto police then tracked the identities of customers of the site around the world, resulting in 341 arrests and the rescue of 386 children.