The Internet Hotline and Blue Line help victims of online abuse
Online abuse is not only a legal or technical issue; it can also place a serious emotional burden on victims as such experiences often undermine their sense of security and their trust in others. Building on this experience, the Internet Hotline legal aid service of the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH) and experts from the Blue Line Children’s Crisis Foundation have jointly developed four free psychological support resources for victims of online abuse and their families. These publications provide practical and emotional support in situations related to the most common forms of online abuse.
A stolen intimate photo. An online scam that can wipe out entire savings. Online sexual abuse of a child. Such cases not only have legal or financial consequences, but can also leave victims with a deep psychological trauma. Feelings of shame, fear, or vulnerability often persist even after receiving technical and legal assistance. Every day, the experts at the Internet Hotline come across stories that show that help cannot end with filing a report.
The new resources developed through a collaboration between the Internet Hotline and Blue Line are designed to ensure that victims are not left to deal with what has happened on their own. These easy-to-understand publications explain what psychological response is considered normal following such a trauma, what practical steps should be taken, how to cope with what has happened, and when should further help be sought.
The resources offer practical and psychological support in four situations where victims are often left to fend for themselves:
- abuse of intimate images of adults;
- online financial abuse against adults;
- online abuse of children;
- support for parents in cases of online sexual abuse against their minor children.
For the Internet Hotline, there is a human story behind each report. Experts at the legal aid service are working to help address online abuse as quickly and efficiently as possible by providing information, taking the necessary measures and, where possible, helping remove infringing content. The newly developed resources complement this work by highlighting the importance of psychological support and providing practical guidance for taking the first steps in the healing process.
The publications are available free of charge on the Internet Hotline’s website.
Those in need of further assistance can also contact the Internet Hotline’s legal aid service or the Blue Line’s psychological support service. Blue Line’ counsellors provide psychological support to young people under the age of 24 by calling the toll-free number 116 111. You can file a report with the Internet Hotline via internethotline.hu or internethotline@internethotline.hu.
