The Hotline > Activities
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Activities
In the reporting period The Hotline hired two part-time Analysts to deal with the increased levels of reporting, greater interaction with stakeholders and support of additional events to promote the Hotline to the public.
The confidentiality of the public making reports is of paramount importance to the Hotline. The Hotline has applied considerable resources to improving the security and usability of its reporting process. The reporting forms were redesigned and the security technology behind them improved. The Hotline database does not record any data about the originator of anonymous reports. Personal information when provided is erased within 90 days of their report being closed. Notices and information relevant to Internet safety are regularly updated on the Hotline's home page. The Hotline website was also transferred to a new hosting service provided by Blacknight Internet Services.
In the second half of 2004 a new phenomenon appeared on illegal web-sites to disrupt the systems of organisations combating child pornography. This required that the Hotline service completely redesign the systems used to access and trace the servers hosting illegal content.
The Hotline General Manager was elected INHOPE Treasurer for 2004/2005. The Hotline developed an application internally to record report processing and extract statistical information such as that presented in this report. This has now been licensed to INHOPE to provide to members around the World and will expedite the start-up of operations in new Hotlines.
The Hotline has run events to promote understanding of The issues and the importance of making reports to combat the prevalence of illegal content on the Internet. Seminars have been run for ISPs, An Garda Síochána, commercial associations and concerned parents. It is vital that all relevant agencies work together to promote Internet safety and protect children using the Internet. The Hotline has provided support and speakers for events run by child welfare organisations, industry associations and educational organisations. The Hotline has also provided training to staff of other INHOPE member hotlines and hosted fact finding missions from foreign law enforcement and government representatives.
