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INHOPE - International Association of Internet Hotlines

INHOPE

INHOPE represents Hotlines combatting online child sexual abuse material and provides training, services and technical infrastructure.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Marina Kaljurand (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

16 Oct 2024 · Directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material

Response to Protection of Minors Guidelines

27 Sept 2024

Please find attached INHOPE's contribution to the call for evidence on the guidelines to enforce the protection of minors online under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
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Response to Combating child sexual abuse

4 May 2024

INHOPE welcomes the European Commission's proposed recast directive on combating child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation, adopted on February 6th, 2024. This legislative proposal marks a significant step forward in the global fight against child sexual abuse. We welcome the European Commissions efforts in updating terminology, extending the definition of criminal offences related to child sexual abuse and the inclusion of prevention measures. These proposed amendments are crucial in addressing the evolving nature of child sexual abuse and exploitation in the digital age. Most notably, INHOPE endorses the amendments to Article 5. The legal recognition of the role of hotlines in child protection is a significant advancement which will result in the rapid removal of CSAM from the digital world globally. By calling on Member States to provide hotlines with the legal mandate to receive and analyse suspected CSAM reports, the directive creates an environment where hotlines will be able to operate more effectively, independently and leveraging their expertise to stop the spread of CSAM online. The proposed measures will also enhance multi-sectoral and international cooperation for hotlines, which in turn increases the global reach, response efficiency and support to national law enforcement. Crucially the draft directive will allow hotlines to proactively search for CSAM on the basis of the reported material, which will allow for greater amounts of CSAM to be detected and removed rapidly from the digital world. While INHOPE welcomes the proposed recast directive, we have identified the following suggested areas of improvement to ensure that the Directive will achieve its full potential. (1) Expand CSAM definition currently the definition of child sexual abuse material provided in article 2(3) covers only visual material. Devastatingly there are also other types of material of child sexual abuse circulating in the digital world, such as audio CSAM. Therefore, the definition should encompass all materials, regardless of their form, that depict a child engaged in real or simulated sexually explicit conduct, rather than limiting it to visual content only. (2) Use hotline in article 5 the term hotline should be used instead of an organisation established in a Member State acting in the public interest against child sexual abuse that has been authorised by competent authorities of that Member State when such actions were carried out in accordance with the conditions set out in such authorisation. It is clear that legislators are referring to hotlines in this article, read together with paragraph 45 of the preamble and Explanatory note. Therefore, using hotlines in the actual article as well helps to avoid ambiguity that could lead to misinterpretation of the laws intent, especially taking into consideration that the directive needs to be implemented into 27 Member States national laws. (3) Include legal basis for hotlines to cooperate with industry article 5 should also include the option for Member States to authorise hotlines to engage with Service Providers for the rapid removal of CSAM. By providing the legal basis for hotlines to explicitly have the right to notice the Electronic Service providers about confirmed CSAM and ask for the removal of such material, CSAM can be removed quicker from the digital world and law enforcement will be able to spend more resources and time on actual investigations. INHOPE is committed to working closely with the European Commission, EU Member States, and our network of internet hotlines to ensure smooth implementation of these changes once the recast directive is enforced. We believe that through close collaboration and the sharing of best practices, we can create a safer online environment for children. This directive is a pivotal moment in our collective effort to eradicate child sexual abuse and exploitation, and INHOPE stands ready to support its success.
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Meeting with Jeroen Lenaers (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

21 Mar 2024 · Directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA (Recast)

Meeting with Paul Tang (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and its various subsidiaries and eco - Verband der Internetwirtschaft

4 May 2023 · Staff Level: INHOPE roundtable on the role of hotlines in combating child sexual abuse (CSA)

Meeting with Jeroen Lenaers (Member of the European Parliament)

2 Feb 2023 · CSAM

Meeting with Patrick Breyer (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

1 Feb 2023 · CSAM

Meeting with Paul Tang (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Google and

12 Jan 2023 · Closed door stakeholders meeting on Child Sexual Abuse Regulation with MEP Alex Agius Saliba and MEP Helene Fritzon

Meeting with Catharina Rinzema (Member of the European Parliament)

27 Oct 2022 · CSAM