Analysis
Analysis Introduction
Numbers of reports received.
In the period from 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2006 the Hotline processed 2,677 reports. This is an increase of 12% on the 2,390 processed in 2005. The Hotline has now dealt with some 10,246 reports since it was established just over seven years ago. This shows that the Hotline is a service that is in demand from the Irish public and in increasing numbers, as more people discover the benefits of Internet in their everyday lives. Unfortunately there are a small minority who will misuse the Internet and the Hotline is a means whereby the majority of users can draw attention to this misuse and have something done about it.
Average Monthly Reporting Level by Quarter Year.
The reporting rate tends to be highly variable with some months being very high while others are relatively low. To smooth this erratic data in to a more understandable form, the number of reports received per month over the three months is averaged for each quarter year. The two highest quarterly levels ever recorded by the Hotline were experienced in 2006. December 2006, when 460 reports were received, marked the highest monthly level of reporting recorded since the Hotline was established. As this graph shows, there is a general upward trend in Hotline usage. This is positive for the fight against illegal content as it is only when suspected content is reported that the Hotline can start the process which can lead to its removal from the Internet.
The average number of reports received per month over 2006 was 223/month compared to 199/month in 2005. This increased number of reports per month requires more time and resources to handle. In peak months, turnaround times necessarily extends as Hotline personnel levels are matched to deal with average reporting rates.
The Hotline is not permitted to undertake any pre-emptive searching for illegal content on the Internet. It can only assess material reported by the public. Therefore report numbers represent the reaction of the public to material they have encountered when using various Internet services or which was sent to them as e-mail.
Method of Reporting Used By The Public.
The graph below shows how people reported to the Hotline. The Hotline prefers to receive reports through the report forms provided on the www.hotline.ie website. Due to the prompts for relevant technical details required, reports received by this method tend to be of superior quality. It also permits the Hotline Analysts to process reports more efficiently.
The graph also shows derived reports. These are reports generated by the Hotline when a source reported by a member of the public contains links to another Internet location which is assessed as also providing illegal content.
Reporting trends since establishment.
The steady increase in the numbers of reports received by the Hotline since its establishment may be explained by the sheer increase in the volume of Internet usage.
| Year | 2000* | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
| Reports received | 394 | 465 | 943 | 1,587 | 1,790 | 2,390 | 2,677 |
| Year on year growth | - | 18% | 103% | 68% | 13% | 34% | 12% |
| Total Reports up to 31st December 2006 | 10,246 | ||||||
| * Includes 16 reports received in Nov./Dec. 1999 | |||||||
Comreg in their “Quarterly Key Data Report 06/68” reports that Broadband subscriptions rose from 212,200 to 436,800 subscribers over the period from the 3rd Quarter 2005 to the 3rd Quarter 2006. In the same period narrowband Internet subscriptions dropped from 634,000 to 562,000. Taken together this represents a yearly gain of 152,600 Internet subscriptions. It must also be realised that one subscription is typically used by many users in both the home and business environment. Surveys from many sources show that broadband users spend considerably longer online and access more content than dial-up counterparts. It is reasonable to infer from these figures that with such large increases in users that there is a higher chance of people encountering material on the Web or receiving spam that they suspect to be illegal. In fact it is surprising that there was not a greater increase than 12% in reporting. From its experience of content being reported, the Hotline believes increased reporting is a function of more people using the Internet rather than any great increase in the prevalence of illegal content.
