Feature
Trends observed in content reported
Pay-sites.
The Hotline regularly receives reports from concerned members of the public who have encountered websites offering access to child pornography for payment. These pay-sites are structured similarly to many hundreds of adult pornography sites. They have a few open access preview pages purporting to show a sample of what can be obtained from site after buying access through electronic the payment form that is then displayed. Mainstream adult sites tend to overlay advertising words or a graphic to retain some modesty in case minors were to go into the preview.
In the previous reporting period, most of the child pornography pay-sites reported to the Hotline, involved preview page images that were kept mostly within legal boundaries. The site owners implied, using fairly restrained language, what could be obtained inside the site following payment. Over the course of this reporting period, the Hotline Analysts have observed that the imagery and descriptions provided on the open preview pages of these sites has become increasingly blatant. The majority of pornographic images of children used are most definitely illegal under Irish law. The descriptions have generally become more sexually explicit and use base terminology. On occasion some even go so far as to highlight the cruelty involved in the production of the images.
Child victims.
In relation to the children depicted, previously the majority of images appeared to be staged in photographic studios where child models were in erotic dress and photographed in poses inappropriate to their age. A worrying trend has developed which makes it more imperative than ever that international cooperation between Hotlines, Law Enforcement and Child Welfare / Social Welfare agencies is stepped up in order to identify where these images originate, break the trade over the Internet, rescue the children involved and prosecute those responsible. The Hotline states this because Analysts have noted a marked increase in pay-sites offering images depicting children in more sexually explicit situations, often directly involving adults and photographed in “run down” settings. In some more extreme cases the children have appeared malnourished and even some with visible physical injuries.
Where the abuser also appears in the images, it is usually a male adult but not exclusively so. Female adults have also appeared in some content reported to the Hotline, sometimes directly performing the abuse or in other cases facilitating another to abuse the child. It must be presumed there is usually someone behind the camera and they are abusers too.
React by reporting.
Understandably, this can be very disturbing and shocking for members of the public who happen upon such images while using the Internet. It is a natural reaction to want to get these images off the screen and cast it out of mind just as quickly as possible. However, having the resolve to do something and report it to the Hotline, is of the utmost importance. Because without this material being reported, the authorities may never learn of its existence in that particular location on the Internet. This means taking the time to copy the URL into the Hotline report form and submit it. This simple act triggers a series of events that can successfully lead to the tracing and removal of this content from the Internet and, where possible, provide the information to assist the relevant Law Enforcement Agency to embark on successful criminal investigations.
It should be noted that the Hotline exists for members of the public to report content they have accidentally come across while using the Internet and suspect may be illegal. The Hotline implores people not to deliberately search for such material. Knowingly performing repeated visits to probably illegal sites and forums is against the law and could result in significant quantities of illegal images downloading to your computer. The Hotline itself is not authorised to undertake pro-active searching. Reporting to the Hotline does not provide any kind of defence for being found in possession of child pornography.
Detection avoidance.
In addition to these websites providing more severe illegal content, they often pose an additional challenges to Hotlines. During the reporting period, it became evident to the Hotline that the criminals operating these sites are increasingly employing techniques to hamper Hotlines attempting to access or locate their sites. Due to targeted malicious code and other measures these sites employed, the Hotline was forced to adapt the computing and network infrastructure used to access and trace the servers hosting illegal content.
Clearly the volume and complexity of work facing the Hotline has become more challenging over the reporting period. This is a trend we fear will continue for some time. However, while the Hotline will continue to evolve its service to overcome these challenges, it fundamentally relies on the goodwill of the public to submit reports of content they suspect to be illegal. So even as shocking and disturbing as this content can be, something can be done about it when it is reported. The “Report Online” Facility on www.hotline.ie provides a secure and anonymous way of reporting such material to assist the appropriate authorities take action to combat it.
