Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Background.
www.hotline.ie (The Hotline) is a service run by the Internet Service Providers Association of Ireland to combat illegal content, particularly child pornography, on the Internet. Its operation relies on the public to submit reports about content they suspect may be illegal which they have encountered when using the Internet.
The objective is to have a rapid response system to remove from public access illegal content found to be hosted on, or being distributed from, ISPAI member’s Internet facilities. It also serves to notify An Garda Síochána in such an eventuality, so they may initiate investigations. The Hotline’s existence is also intended as a deterrent to illegal use and to provide a safer Internet environment for all who use it, particularly children.
Due to the global nature of the Internet, national action alone would be largely ineffective. The Hotline cooperates through an international network of partner Hotlines (INHOPE) to act against the hosting and distribution of child pornography on the Internet irrespective of the originating jurisdiction.
This is the fourth major report of the Hotline since its establishment in November 1999. It examines activities during 2006, provides analysis of the statistics collected, compares trends with previous reporting periods and offers some observations.
Reporting level.
In the 12 month period from 1st January to 31st December 2006 the Hotline processed 2,677 reports. This is an increase of 12% on the 2,390 processed in 2005.
The average number of reports processed per month during 2006 was 223 per month compared to 199 per month in 2005. This is positive progress as suspected illegal content must be brought to the attention of the authorities to allow action to be taken. Any increase in reporting is therefore welcomed.
ComReg reports in their “Quarterly Key Data Report 06/68” that Broadband subscriptions more than doubled from the 3rd Quarter 2005 to the 3rd Quarter 2006. (Rising from 212,200 to 436,800 subscribers). In the same period narrowband Internet subscriptions dropped from 634,000 to 562,000. This shows a substantial increase in total Internet usage, especially when it is realised that a single broadband subscription can be used by multiple users in a home or business. Surveys from many sources show that broadband users spend considerably longer online and access more content than dial-up counterparts. It is inferred from these figures that increased reporting to the Hotline is a function of more people using the Internet rather than any great increase in the prevalence of illegal content.
Suspicions reported.
While the Hotline accepts reports of other types of illegal content, suspected child pornography remains the top reason for report submissions. It was cited or implied in 2,125 reports which represents 79% of all reports.
All reports received are transferred to the Hotline database where details are recorded and the complaint categorised. The other 21% of reports comprised: 4% queries, 3% computer related (complaints financial scams, viruses or trojan attacks, denial of service, hacking and such like), 1% racist material or incitement to violence, 1% adult pornography (which is not illegal under Irish law) and 12% other (where insufficient information was given to allow the Hotline to categorise the suspicion).
In 2005 only 1% of reports were queries. A large part of the rise in 2006 can be attributed to concerns being expressed by parents and teachers about social networking sites which were only emerging during 2005.
Assessment process.
Each stage of the assessment and tracing process is recorded along with the findings and actions carried out by the Hotline Analysts. The Analyst initially tries to access the reported content. In 206 cases the reports were either queries or matters outside the Hotline remit where no content access attempt was undertaken. In 397 cases the reported content was either inaccessible or the content referred to in the reports could not be found.
Where the content is found, the Analyst tries to determine whether or not the images and text presented break relevant Irish law. In cases of suspected child pornography, this is compared to the criteria given in the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act (1998). Where the content is assessed as probably illegal, a reference and terse description are noted.
Determinations.
In 2006, 429 reports were determined as referring to illegal content. 423 reports referred to content determined by the Hotline to be probably illegal child pornography under the 1998 Act. In 2005, that number was 384 from a total of 388 reports assessed as referring to illegal content.
This shows that despite a 12% increase in reporting, the number of child pornography determinations rose by only 39 reports between 2005 and 2006. When viewed in percentage terms this represents a marginal drop from 16.1% of all reports in 2005 to 15.8% of all reports made in 2006.
There was one confirmed report of activities where a person was attempting to lure a child into meeting for sexual purposes and forwarded via the appropriate channel for action. There were also 22 cases where images of children were reported but determined as not illegal under the 1998 Act.
Just over 21% of reports (571) proved to be adult pornography which is not illegal and no further action is taken by the Hotline. 39 reports (1%) were determined as falling within the illegal “computer related” and “racism or incitement to violence” categories. A further 1018 reports (just under 40%) were determined as referring to other material that was assessed as “not illegal” nor specifically adult pornography. About half of these referred to spam which while suggestive did not link to illegal content and were therefore classified as “not illegal”.
In 2005, 663 cases were recorded where the content was either not found or not accessible compared to only 397 cases 2006. When these “not found/accessible” data are combined with the static level of child pornography determinations, it suggests that casual users of the Internet are encountering this illegal content less often in 2006 than was experienced in 2005.
Membership of INHOPE.
To be effective, especially in the fight against child pornography, the Hotline must cooperate with similar trusted hotlines around the world. It is a member of INHOPE, the Association that approves hotlines recognised by their governments and which operate to best practice standards. Through the INHOPE network, illegal content located by the Hotline in another member country, can be swiftly forwarded for action to the Hotline in that other jurisdiction. In 2006, the INHOPE network grew to 27 member Hotlines.
Resulting action.
Having determined reported content to be illegal, the Hotline Analyst then attempts to trace the source country and network so they can be forwarded to the appropriate authorities. After elimination of duplicate reports, there were 421 unique illegal reports in 2006 compared to 334 in 2005.
In 28 cases, despite best efforts, the origin of the content was determined as outside Ireland but the jurisdiction of origin could not be located with any confidence. In all remaining cases the apparent source was traced. Where that country has an INHOPE member Hotline, details about the reported content (never the reporter) are forwarded to that Hotline for action in that jurisdiction. In the period 199 reports were forwarded to other INHOPE hotlines.
If the origin is traced to a country where an INHOPE member Hotline does not exist, details about the reported content (never the reporter) are forwarded to a designated contact in An Garda Síochána headquarters. 186 such reports were forwarded to An Garda Síochána in the period. The reports are then forwarded to Interpol where they can be transmitted to law enforcement in the country where the content appears to be located.
In 2006, not a single report confirmed as referring to illegal child pornography, was traced as either hosted in, or distributed from, Ireland. This has been the case since the establishment of the Hotline. This is a record of which this country should be very proud.
Relationship with Law Enforcement.
It must be emphasised that only An Garda Síochána fulfil the role of law enforcement in the State. The Hotline has support from Government and the Gardaí only to accept reports of content that is hosted or distributed on Internet services. It acts as a filter to ensure that law enforcement receives qualified reports that actually pertain to their jurisdiction. It is they who conduct any criminal investigations of the perpetrators behind this illegal content. Once the Hotline has passed its content assessment and the technical information it has gathered on the Internet to law enforcement, the Hotline's role is completed. The Hotline very much appreciates the support it has received from An Garda Síochána in the period who have promoted the Hotline on their website and in the Garda pages of the national telephone directories.
Support from Industry.
The ISPAI is supported by self-regulating members of the Internet industry. It is important that new entrants to the Irish Internet hosting and access market play their part to support the Hotline and thereby contribute to the International efforts to combat the proliferation of illegal Internet content.
Conclusions.
Ireland's excellent record continues. In 2006 no report received by the Hotline referred to illegal child pornography that was found to be located in Ireland. All cases proved to be hosted or distributed form outside the jurisdiction.
There is no room for complacency. We must continue to keep this type of material away from Irish Internet facilities by continuing to show vigilance through cooperation of government, Gardaí and industry.
The Internet is a global phenomenon and Irish Internet users can encounter illegal content that is hosted anywhere in the world. Ireland must therefore play its part in International efforts to curtail illegal use of the Internet. The Hotline and its membership of INHOPE is a key part of this effort.
The Hotline service relies on the public to report suspected illegal content to support the fight against child pornography and other illegal content on the Internet. Please do not ignore suspected illegal content report it to www.hotline.ie so that action can be taken.
