Internet Watch Foundation

IWF Hotline Manager, Adrian Dwyer, attended the INHOPE Global General Assembly which brought together 50 experts from over 30 states.  International and national police forces, Government representatives, hotlines, child protection agencies and IT industry experts shared success stories whilst addressing internet safety issues.

 

The global agenda included breakout sessions where internet specialists discussed preventative measures to deal with the immediate danger of online predators. Cormac Callanan, CEO INHOPE said “The cooperation and sharing of information between the hotlines and relevant parties has resulted in a triumph against child pornography. Nevertheless in order to stop the clear and present online danger, parents need to be alerted to the dangers.”

 

A special session welcomed two new members from Slovenia and Japan to join the successful INHOPE network. The Spletno-oko hotline in Slovenia was established in September 2006. The organisation is a consortium of three partners and is funded by the European Commission and its consortium partners.  The IAJ hotline in Tokyo, Japan was established in June 2006. Akio Kokubu explained “The IAJ is delighted to become members of INHOPE. We believe that our fight against illegal content will be greatly enhanced by this increased international cooperation”.

 

The IWF hosted three visits by the Japanese hotline during the initial stages of their establishment as part of our commitment to share best practice and is delighted to welcome dedicated teams around the world helping the international fight against child abuse content online.

 

When online child abuse content is reported to a Hotline it is not unusual for it to transcend traditional national boundaries. There are now 29 member hotlines in 26 countries worldwide. 

 

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The IWF is the only authorised organisation in the UK operating an internet ‘hotline’ for the public and IT professionals to report their exposure to potentially illegal content online.

 

Our aim is to minimise the availability of potentially illegal internet content, specifically:

We work in partnership with UK Government departments such as the Home Office and the Department of Trade and Industry to influence initiatives and programmes developed to combat online abuse. This dialogue goes beyond the UK and Europe, to ensure greater awareness of global issues and responsibilities.

 

We are funded by the EU and the UK internet industry including internet service providers (ISPs), mobile operators and manufacturers, content service providers (CSPs) and telecommunications & software companies.

 

Through the hotline reporting system, we help ISPs to combat abuse of their services through a ‘notice and take-down’ service by alerting them to any potentially illegal content on their systems and simultaneously inviting the police to investigate the publisher.

 

As a result, only 0.4% of potentially illegal content is apparently hosted in the UK, down from 18% in 1997.

 

As the number of people using the internet and the diversity of content available continues to grow, the mechanisms for dealing with illegal content must be better known and understood.

 

In partnership with many organisations, we strive to create continued awareness of the role and purpose of the IWF and aim to foster trust and reassurance in the internet for current and future users.

 

Please note that the terms "child pornography" or "child porn" can act to legitimise images which are not pornography. Rather, they are permanent records of children being sexually abused and as such should be referred to as child abuse images.

 

IWF is an incorporated charity, limited by guarantee.

Charity No. 1112398

Tel: +44 (0) 1223 237 700

 

 

 

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 law enforcement agencies, such as the Police, or Internet Service Providers for further action.  

 

INHOPE is part funded by the EC as part of the European Commission Safer Internet Action Programme and Microsoft.

 

INHOPE Press Contact:

 

Kerry Gordon

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

 

INHOPE

25 Sandyford Office Park, Dublin 18, Ireland

 

e:         kerrygordon@inhope.org

w:        www.inhope.org

m:        +353 87 99 614 99

 

Spletno-oko hotline - www.spletno-oko.si