The HEROES project has successfully developed a series of innovative Key Exploitable Results (KERs) designed to combat online threats against children and improve responses to Trafficking in Human Beings (THB), Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE). These solutions encompass both technological tools and social initiatives, aligning with the project's three fundamental pillars: Prevention, Investigation, and Victim Assistance.
Among the technological tools are a mobile application for detecting grooming attempts, which uses artificial intelligence to identify and alert parents or legal guardians about potential incidents, and a citizen reporting app that enables users to report suspicious activities to local authorities. Simultaneously, comprehensive training programs and educational guides have been developed to raise awareness and empower communities to prevent these crimes.
Close collaboration between technology developers, law enforcement agencies (LEAs), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has been crucial to achieving Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) ranging from 3 to 7. The results obtained have demonstrated their feasibility and potential for implementation in real-world settings.