Marking Safer Internet Day 2018

Brussels, 6 February 2018– To mark Safer Internet Day 2018, the European Internet Service Providers Association (EuroISPA) has reiterated the crucial role played by Internet Hotlines and their efforts in fighting Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and other illegal content online.

EuroISPA is the voice of the Internet industry, representing over 2,500 service providers along the Internet value chain across Europe, taking the lead in advocating for these important hotlines. Indeed, three of EuroISPA’s member associations are responsible for their respective national hotlines, where they undertake the key task of processing and taking action on thousands of reported cases of illegal content each year.

EuroISPA has supported the European Institutions’ insight in providing public funding to establish and ensure the running of the network of hotlines in Europe today, in turn also supporting EuroISPA Members’ efforts in this regard.

However, this essential EU co-funding has recently seen a downward trend, putting at risk the progress and successes of the hotlines in tackling CSAM and illegal online content. EuroISPA continues to advocate to EU policy-makers the importance of sustained co-financing, so that hotlines have the necessary resources to deploy their efforts in their daily work towards a safer Internet.

EuroISPA Safer Internet Committee Chair Nicolas D’Arcy said: “Safer Internet Day is a brilliant opportunity to highlight the important role undertaken by hotlines across Europe, especially in tackling CSAM online. EuroISPA will continue to advocate for financial and political support from EU policy-makers, underscoring the hotlines’ crucial role in the Internet ecosystem and in ensuring a safe environment for all online.”