INHOPE hotlines enable the public to anonymously report online images and videos, referred to as ‘material,’ that they suspect may be illegal. A hotline analyst investigates the report and, if confirmed illegal, acts to have the content removed as rapidly as possible. The public is encouraged to submit a report by visiting their national hotline website and submitting the URL where the material was found.
Hotlines are often part of larger organisations that undertake other work related to protecting children online. They:
INHOPE is a global network of hotlines combatting online Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Since 1999, the network has grown from just nine European hotlines to 57 hotlines across 52 countries. Its work is supported by the European Commission, the internet industry, and its members. INHOPE’s vision is an internet free of CSAM, and its mission is to support hotlines in achieving that goal.
Hotline analysts are trained by INHOPE staff and INTERPOL’s Criminal Intelligence Officers to review CSAM. They are not police officers, but every hotline works closely with their national police. Each report of suspected CSAM received from the public is reviewed and classified. If illegal, the report is shared with national law enforcement agencies and the relevant internet service provider, which then receives a notice and takedown order.
A key value of a hotline in any country is that it processes all public reports of suspected illegal content and sends only the confirmed illegal reports to the national LEA. This saves time for police, allowing them to focus on investigation rather than initial report processing. Hotlines also manage requests to hosting providers to remove illegal material from their platforms.
Ultimately, having a hotline means:
