AiBA - Author Behavioural Analysis, to keep children safe online

An interdisciplinary team of researchers and business developers, originating from the Norwegian Biometric Laboratory at NTNU, has developed a new and accurate technology that can detect people with unwanted behavior such as cyber grooming, toxicity and fake profiles on the internet. The solution is based on machine learning and behavioral biometrics. The aim of Aiba is to provide an early warning so that the digital platforms can stop conversations before damage occurs. Aiba predicts potentially harmful conversations and activity in real time and delivers this as a service to platform owners such as gaming and social media companies. The pilot tests in collaboration with 7 pilot customers have shown that the technology solves the growing problem in the market in an efficient and accurate way. The MVP has shown that the solution can handle large amounts of data from pilot customers in real time. The project results are now being commercialized through a newly established start-up with a strong team that has raised around NOK 7 million in private investor capital.

Aiba offers a significant leap in detection of fake profiles and the exposure of child predators online. With a unique approach, combining state-of-the art research within keystroke dynamics and stylometry, the solution will be able to perform accurate continuous real-time analytics and function as an early warning system of unwanted harassing behaviour. The project has helped to increase awareness of online safety for children by strategically utilizing media, resulting in around 30 publications. By establishing a venture funded company with business case based on the project results, already 5 new jobs were created fall 2022, with another 4-5 in the pipeline for the next six months. Our solution is directly addressing important parts of UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child and UN’s sustainability goals: 1) We will reduce suicides and increase children’s mental health and well-being by reducing toxicity and stop grooming in online platforms. We believe we can stop cyber grooming with at least 99 % for our customers (Target 3.4) 2) We work to ensure all children are safe on the internet no matter where they live or economical background. Through our service to gaming and social media companies we will increase equal opportunities and reduce inequalities for children online and ensure all children are safe (Target 10.3) 3) Our mission is safe digital lives, and we believe Aiba can significantly reduce and stop cyber grooming and toxicity before any harm happens (Target 16.1). Our goal is to predict cyber grooming at an early stage so abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against children will be stopped (Target 16.2). We will through our work to promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all when it comes to children’s safety online (Target 16.3)