Many internet service providers (ISPs) have chosen not to join the Internet Service Providers Association of Ireland (ISPAI) in its fight against child pornography and other illegal web content, says Paul Durrant, the ISPAI’s general manager.
“It is unfortunate that many of these companies have chosen not to join the ISPAI and participate in the self-regulation of the industry, or financially support the ongoing fight against cybercrime,” he said.
Durrant addresses these concerns as the ISPAI’s service Hotline.ie, which was established in 1999, relaunches officially today with the Minister for Justice, Brian Lenihan TD in attendance.
It is hoped that highlighting the need for a co-ordinated approach amongst all ISPs when it comes to fighting child pornography will encourage more of these organisations to join.
The ISPAI was set up 10 years ago by the leading ISPs of the time but since then, it says, there has been a boom in the industry resulting in many newer, smaller firms offering broadband or web hosting to the masses.
Hotline.ie encourages Irish citizens to report any illegal content they encounter online, with a focus on combating child pornography. The reports are kept anonymous and relate to any sites, Irish or international.
The ISPAI says most of the illegal material reported to the Hotline.ie service “relates to child pornography or other child abuse and the figures are rising”.
In March 2007, Hotline.ie said that throughout 2006 it received 2,677 reports about suspected illegal content on the net: a 12pc increase on the 2,039 reports received in 2005.
By Marie Boran
