The Internet Hotline online information and help service has been operating under the NMHH umbrella since 2011, and has handled more than 17,000 reports. Maintained by the NMHH, the hotline receives reports in eight categories regarding internet content that the reporting individual believes to be illegal or harmful to minors, via the webform available on the website (https://e-nmhh.nmhh.hu/e-nhh/4/urlapok/esf00120/) or by sending an email to internethotline@internethotline.hu.

Don’t ignore it, report it to us!

Most of the reports received by the IH are in the category of child pornography, relating to online sexual abuse of children, and this tendency has been unchanging since 2019. Although the number of reports decreased in 2023, still 42 percent of last year’s reports were received in this category, i.e. 850 reports. Nearly 17 percent of the reviewed reports, so nearly 1 in 6 reports received in the category of child pornography, based on the analysts’ assumption, the content was produced during sexting. In the case of nearly 17 percent of the reviewed reports, so nearly 1 in 6 reports received in the category of child pornography, the recording was determined as having been lured from the child in the course of online grooming.

One of the main messages of the IH is that we all have important roles and responsibilities in the fight against online child sexual abuse, and it is important not to ignore such content, but instead to contact the hotlinewith confidence.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help!

In cases of content published without consent, both the number of reports and their proportion have increased compared to 2022, with the latter rising from 10 to 14 percent. Compared to previous years, the proportion of intimate image abuse within this category was also exceptionally high last year: in 2023, they accounted for a third, that is 33 percent, of all reports received, and 39 percent in 2022. The IH analysts believe that this tendency and high rate will most probably remain unchanged in the upcoming years, as the number of violations is not expected to decrease.

The IH wants to send a message to all concerned that intimate image abuse is not the victim’s fault, and to help victims understand that they are not alone in the online space: they can always turn to the IH.

We don’t leave parents alone either, report to IH!

The number of reports from parents has increased compared to previous years, meaning that more and more parents seek help from the Internet Hotline. Before 2023, reports were regularly received from parents on online violations impacting their children or online content that they believed to be detrimental to their child’s development. However, last year was exceptional in this respect, as the IH handled 55 reports where the reporting person clearly acted as the legal representative of their child by filing a report on an ongoing violation. The fact that more and more parents file reports, also means that in these cases children trusted their parents enough to ask for help, and that parents consciously sought solutions and found the IH.

The IH also encourages parents to contact the hotline and report if their child has been a victim of online abuse!

Blaming doesn’t help the victim, but you can!

In addition to handling reports, the IH is actively involved in awareness-raising activities through presentations and workshops. The experience of presentations for adults, but especially for children, shows that the typical behaviour in the context of online abuse is victim-blaming and the “I’ll handle it myself” attitude, rather than asking for help.

In 2023, the IH’s colleagues reached out to over 1,700 people by discussing online threats and risks, as well as the possible solutions, and presented the work of the hotline in the course of lectures. One of the main findings of the IH, based on interviews with children, is that victim-blaming is a serious issue among them, which significantly increases the victim’s sense of shame and hinders them from seeking help. Children also typically prefer to solve their problems on their own, without involving adults. However, this is inevitable and necessary in certain situations.

During their lectures, IH colleagues always remind the audience to pay attention to those around them who have been victims of abuse, as even the smallest gesture can do a lot for the mental health of victims!

Rights awareness posters in schools: “You have rights online, as well! Ask, tell, report!”

These were the key messages of the school posters created jointly by the IH and the Ministry of Interior’s Integrated Right Protection Service. Awareness-raising posters reached the students in nearly 4,500 public education institutions in autumn 2023. The posters brought up eight specific points in order to raise awareness of online abuse. The messages they conveyed included affirmations assuring children that no one was allowed to hurt or bully them, even online, because they are all equally valuable. They also emphasized that no one can ask them to do something they are not comfortable with or do not want to do, such as taking intimate pictures or recordings of themselves.

The IH hopes to help children understand that they do have rights online, and it is vital for them to know they are not alone, and can ask for help.