The Hotline.ie service run by the Internet Service Providers Association of Ireland is marking 15 years of full operations, fighting against the distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
Internet Service Providers Association of Ireland members fund Hotline.ie so the Irish public who accidentally encounter suspected CSAM when using the Internet can report it anonymously and bring it to Industry’s attention when otherwise it would remain unknown. When Hotline Analysts confirm CSAM on a member’s network, they notify the ISP and Gardaí who move swiftly to remove these images and initiate police investigation. Mostly CSAM reported to Hotline.ie is traced to overseas hosts but the Hotline does not “drop the ball” there. Being part of the INHOPE international network of hotlines allows reports to be rapidly relayed to other jurisdictions so similar take-down and police action can be taken there.
The Internet Service Providers Association of Ireland has published an infographic explaining the work of Hotline.ie, and highlighting some of the facts which have emerged from 15 years of operation. Paul Durrant, CEO of Internet Service Providers Association of Ireland and General Manager of Hotline.ie, stressed the importance of public participation in the fight against child abuse.
“As an Industry we are committed to fighting criminal misuse of the Internet infrastructure we provide. Hotline.ie is integral to national and international efforts to act against the distribution of CSAM online – notifying ISPs and law enforcement of reported reoccurrences of the old, and the many new, illegal photos and videos of child victims which continue to appear”.
In a previous Technology.ie podcast, Mr Durrant explained that reporting CSAM anonymously to Hotline.ie is the only way for people to combat child sexual abuse online. It is illegal to knowingly access such material, even for the purpose of investigation, without prior special arrangement with the Gardaí and the Department of Justice. Hotline analysts assess reported material only within the confines of a special room dedicated to the purpose at the Internet Service Providers Association of Ireland. In doing so, Hotline.ie fulfills a legal requirement on its members, the ISPs, to act on reports of suspected illegal content.
Technology.ie is owned by Blacknight, which is a member of Hotline.ie.
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