On 13–14 August 2026, the Safer Internet Centre Moldova, operated by the International Centre "La Strada", visited the Romanian Safer Internet Centre, operated by Save the Children Romania, for a two-day exchange of practices on protecting children online.
Representatives of both Safer Internet Centres, alongside public authorities from Moldova and Romania, shared experiences and explored how different parts of the child online protection ecosystem can work together — from Hotline and Helpline operations and law enforcement cooperation to education, regulation and prevention.
The exchange began with a focus on the work at the heart of both Safer Internet Centres: responding to reports of online child sexual abuse.
Hotline analysts from Moldova and Romania discussed their working procedures and common challenges in handling reports of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The Moldovan analyst also visited the Romanian Hotline office, including its dedicated space for analysts to rest and decompress after working with harmful content, highlighting the importance of analyst wellbeing.
The Romanian team shared its experience of becoming a Trusted Flagger and how this status supports its role in reporting illegal content and facilitating action to remove CSAM. Discussions highlighted the importance of specialist expertise, clear protocols and strong cooperation with relevant authorities.
This cooperation was explored further during a session with the Romanian Police, where participants discussed referral mechanisms, the responsibilities of different actors and the importance of prompt intervention when CSAM is being circulated. The importance of continuous professional development was also highlighted, including capacity-building opportunities provided by INHOPE and INTERPOL.
The exchange also looked beyond responding to reports, exploring the role of education and prevention in keeping children safer online.
The Moldovan delegation learned about the Romanian Centre’s work with schools and its community of almost 9,000 teachers. They also met with representatives of the Romanian National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) to discuss Romania’s experience with the Digital Services Act (DSA) and cooperation between public authorities and civil society.
Together, these discussions highlighted the interconnected roles of Hotlines, Helplines, law enforcement, educators, regulators and civil society in protecting children online.
For both Safer Internet Centres, the visit provided an opportunity to share practical experience and explore approaches that could strengthen their work in different national contexts.
Online risks do not stop at national borders. Continued cooperation and exchange between Safer Internet Centres and their national partners are essential to building a coordinated response to online child sexual abuse and exploitation.
By learning from one another and strengthening connections across the wider child online protection ecosystem, Safer Internet Centres can continue to build the partnerships and expertise needed to keep children safer online.
