Combatting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online starts with legislation, which provides the essential framework and tools for member hotlines and their national partners to effectively address this heinous crime. However, it is important to acknowledge the diverse legislative contexts across different countries, which present unique challenges for INHOPE member hotlines operating within these jurisdictions.


Through increased awareness, collaboration, and lobbying efforts, INHOPE works to drive positive changes in legislation and promote the use of appropriate and standardised terminology. By shedding light on the inadequate legislative support around the world, we aim to emphasise the importance of strengthening legal frameworks to enhance the effectiveness of hotlines combatting CSAM.

Lack of Specific Legislation

One of the primary issues faced by INHOPE member hotlines is the absence of specific legislation addressing CSAM in many countries. For instance, Lithuania's current legal framework focuses on combating pornography involving children but lacks targeted laws against CSAM. This absence of clarity makes it difficult to prosecute cases related to sites featuring exploitative material and poses obstacles to effective intervention. Similar challenges are encountered in several other countries, including Poland, Serbia, Hungary, and Moldova, where the terminology of "child pornography" continues to be used in legislation rather than the more applicable phrase "child sexual abuse material."

Moreover, legislative definitions and categorisations related to CSAM vary across jurisdictions, leading to discrepancies and challenges in addressing different forms of online child exploitation. Countries like Denmark and Taiwan have made commendable progress in updating their laws and expanding definitions to encompass various aspects of CSAM. However, countries such as Japan still grapple with the influential porn industry's attempts to narrow the definition of CSAM, excluding certain types of harmful content. These inconsistencies hinder the effectiveness of hotlines in combating the full spectrum of online sexual exploitation faced by children. The inclusion or exclusion of nudity within legislation also leads to discrepancies, as some legislation may focus specifically on nudity as a defining factor for CSAM, leaving other forms of exploitative content, such as sexualised posing, outside the scope of prosecution and intervention efforts.

Another challenge lies in the varying age of consent laws between different countries. The discrepancies in the legal age of consent across jurisdictions can create complexities when it comes to removing exploitative material when generated, shared or hosted in different countries. Perpetrators may exploit these differences to target children and share this content, evading prosecution in certain jurisdictions. Harmonising and aligning age of consent laws globally would contribute to a more cohesive approach in combating online child exploitation.

Additionally, the definition of what is considered indecent or exploitative content varies across legislative frameworks. This divergence in terminology can result in inconsistencies in identifying and addressing harmful content, such as sexualised posing or sexualised child modelling. If legislation fails to encompass such forms of exploitation, INHOPE member hotlines may face challenges in effectively combating this specific type of abuse. It is crucial to establish comprehensive guidelines that accurately capture the diverse manifestations of online child sexual exploitation, ensuring no gaps in coverage.

Report processing constraints

Finland and Denmark face specific legislative constraints that impact the effectiveness of their INHOPE member hotlines in processing reports of CSAM.

In Finland, a notable hurdle lies in the limitations imposed on hotline operations. Hotlines are unable to send direct URLs to hosting providers (HPs) containing CSAM. Instead, they can only alert the HPs about the presence of such material and urge them to contact the police. This indirect approach places an additional burden on law enforcement agencies and HPs, requiring them to conduct further investigations and initiate appropriate actions. This extra step not only prolongs the response time but also adds to the workload of the already stretched resources of the police and HPs.

Denmark, like many other countries in the network, faces a significant challenge due to a narrow definition of CSAM within its legislative framework. This limited definition excludes certain forms of exploitative content, such as sexualised content depicting children that violates children´s dignity and their right to privacy, from being classified as CSAM. Hotlines operating in similar legislative contexts encounter obstacles in their efforts to address and remove this harmful content, resulting in a substantial gap in their ability to combat the full spectrum of online child sexual exploitation. By adopting more comprehensive legislation that encompasses all forms of exploitative content, hotlines can be better equipped to remove a wider range of harmful content, thereby providing enhanced protection for children.

Effective advocacy examples

Amid the challenges faced by INHOPE member hotlines in legislative contexts that do not adequately support their work, there have been commendable efforts by various member hotlines that have successfully brought about legislative and policy changes.

INHOPE’s member hotline in Thailand is working to include grooming, sexting, cyberstalking, and cyberbullying within the definition of child sexual exploitation and abuse. By broadening the scope of these offences, Thailand takes a proactive approach to address a range of harmful behaviours targeting children. INHOPE's member hotline in Taiwan has engaged in a two-decade-long lobbying campaign with local politicians to include child sexual exploitation in the national legislation, in order to foster a legislative environment that accurately reflects the evolving nature of online child exploitation and ensures the necessary legal frameworks are in place to protect children effectively.

Recognising the significance of accurate terminology in combatting online child exploitation, Belgium’s member hotline successfully lobbied for a change in laws to replace the outdated term "child pornography" (CP) with the more appropriate and encompassing term "child sexual abuse material" (CSAM). The change in terminology sends a powerful message that the focus should be on the abuse and harm inflicted upon children rather than labelling it as mere pornography. This shift fosters a more accurate understanding of the severity and gravity of the crimes committed against children, encouraging a comprehensive approach to prevention, intervention, and justice. Belgium's success in implementing this terminology change serves as a model for progress and provides inspiration for other jurisdictions grappling with similar challenges.

These positive developments serve as beacons of progress, showcasing the commitment of various countries to address CSAM comprehensively. They demonstrate the value of collaboration, best practices, and lobbying campaigns in effecting change within legislative contexts that may not adequately support hotline work. As INHOPE focuses on supporting member hotlines operating in diverse legislative landscapes, these successes provide inspiration and guidance for future advocacy efforts.


Interested in understanding more about the varying legislative contexts INHOPE member hotlines operate in? Read more in our EU legislative overview here.