Internet Watch Foundation

The International Association of Internet Hotlines (INHOPE) represents and co-ordinates a global network of Hotlines, dedicated to combating child sexual abuse content on the internet. In a recent special session of the INHOPE General Assembly, two new members were welcomed to the INHOPE network - Our Child Foundation from the Czech Republic and FCCN Hotline from Portugal.

 

IWF Hotline Manger, Adrian Dwyer, is Vice-President of INHOPE and has been involved in the process of helping to establish and develop the new Hotlines, as well as meeting with their representatives to share knowledge and experience.

 

Illegal activity on the internet is a global and complex crime requiring a united, cross-border approach. The INHOPE association of internet hotlines has proved a successful network for coordinating a joined up approach to combating child sexual abuse content online, facilitating the sharing of intelligence and expertise. Each Hotline offers a reporting mechanism for the public to report their inadvertent exposure to such content, assesses each report, traces where the content is hosted around the world and works to have abusive images removed and their publishers investigated.

 

Ruben Rodriguez, INHOPE President, welcomed the Our Child Foundation from the Czech Republic and FCCN hotline from Portugal, “The INHOPE network received 900,000 reports from the general public in a 27 month period, in total processing 1.9 million reports. The expansion of our network is crucial in the global fight against cyber crime and in the protection of our children. INHOPE and its stakeholders are leading the fight against illegal content.”

 

The mission of INHOPE is to support and enhance the performance of Internet Hotlines around the World, ensuring swift action is taken in responding to reports of illegal action, making the internet a safer place.

 

The INHOPE Association of Internet Hotlines, co-ordinated from Ireland, was founded in 1999. Hotlines monitor the internet and it is where the general public can report illegal internet content such as child pornography. The hotline confidentially then reviews each report, referring illegal material onto the relevant law enforcement agencies or Internet Service Providers for further action.  

 

Today, there are thirty members of INHOPE worldwide, including members from Europe, Asia, North America and Australia. Through meeting regularly to share knowledge and best practice, INHOPE and its members are working to tackle the global problem of illegal content online – and succeeding.

 

INHOPE is part funded by the EC Safer Internet Action Programme and Microsoft

 

 

Kerry Gordon

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

INHOPE

25 Sandyford Office Park, Dublin 18, Ireland

e: pr@inhope.org

w: www.inhope.org

m: 00353 87 99 614 99

 

 

 

Our Child Foundation hotline - www.internethotline.cz

 

FCCN hotline – www.fccn.pt