How it works
The Big Sister app is a digital guardian for busy families. Using AI and Danger Detection algorithms created by experts, Big Sister identifies threats and sends timely flags to parents.
DEtection Methods
Big Sister uses five complex detection methods to identify potential dangers. Our Danger Detection algorithm encodes child safety advice and is guided by our panel of experts.
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NLP uses code to analyse text, interpret tone, emotion, and context, including:
Detecting sarcasm
Identifying bullying language, even when unrecognized by victims
Flagging violent rhetoric as potential radicalisation indicators
Recognizing "love bombing" as a possible grooming tactic
This technology enables deeper understanding of communication, aiding in early detection of concerning behaviors.
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AI in Big Sister focuses on child protection through:
Standalone code for image analysis, detecting:
Problematic objects (guns, drugs, radicalisation symbols)
Nudity
Text extraction from images
Automated processing to avoid human exposure to sensitive content.
High-speed analysis of large image volumes
Human oversight:
Monthly audits
Algorithm training and testing
This approach balances privacy concerns with child safety, ensuring sensitive data remains protected while effectively identifying potential threats.
Privacy Safeguards:
No external data sharing
Limited human interaction with sensitive content
Regular audits to maintain system integrity
By using AI for initial screening, Big Sister minimizes privacy risks associated with human review of sensitive materials while maximizing child protection efforts.
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Some apps are never appropriate for children (18+, gambling, porn, dark web browsers) and some sites are not either. There are also typical words and phrases that are used when someone is radicalised. Emojis with the conjunction of NLP can give a full picture of the meaning of the word in messages and content your child is exposed to.
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Grooming detection is crucial as it often precedes four major danger categories:
Extreme content
Exploitation
Child sexual abuse
Illegal activities
Key points:
Encoded grooming patterns enable early detection
AI identifies cumulative patterns indicating risks like:
Suicide
Eating disorders
This approach allows for proactive intervention in potentially dangerous situations involving children.
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A sudden change in behaviour or a sudden new contact non normal behaviour is a very early indicator of a safeguarding issue. Big Sister gathers “normal” behaviour for a while and then can trigger for non normal and sudden changes.
Privacy First
At Big Sister we ensure that your child's safety and consent is platformed to ensure no child feels ‘watched’ or exploited online. Your child has to consent to install the app and can uninstall any time. This protects them from the possibility of being abused through the app. As a parent you get a red flag if the app is uninstalled. Other apps for online safety will actually be routes to spy on your children which erodes trust and induces children to circumvent your safety nets. Big Sister only takes the data to spot warning flags. The parent will only see what is needed to keep a child safe. No more.
Timely Flags
Big Sister automatically checks activities and interactions, sending warning flags via email if a threat is triggered. The parent can use their dashboard to explore these further and have general insights about their child’s device use and specific insights about pending dangers or risks their child is facing.
Your Data Kept Secure
We will never sell your data.
We save minimal data. We process the data to get the alerts and general stats then it is not saved. Your data is encrypted end to end. We are Cyber Essentials plus secured which means your data is treated as securely as government’s state secrets!
The Dashboard
Parents can log in to their own dashboard to see flags and other patterns and trends. They can add multiple devices to each child’s profile and have shared devices.
They are signposted to helpful tips and articles when there is a flag to support the conversations with their children.
Maturity Sensitive
Every child is different and every family has an unique circumstance. To reflect the different rates of maturity of children and different parental attitudes to dangers the family can select the appropriate stage of development for their child and Big Sister is tuned to give appropriate alerts for that stage of development.
Expert Advice
Big Sister has encoded Danger Detection algorithms from child safety advice, curated by a panel of experts to identify threats. The detections are super-charged with AI. No other app has our patent pending danger detection.