INHOPE

Due to the global nature of the internet, combating illegal content and usage of it effeciently requires international cooperation. Therefore, the "Association of Internet Hotline Providers in Europe" (INHOPE) was founded in 1999 by the FSM and seven other complaint hotlines in order to facilitate and co-ordinate the work of internet hotlines. Between May 2002 and May 2005 Sabine Frank, managing director of the FSM, represented INHOPE as vice president.

Both INHOPE's work and the activity of the FSM complaints hotline are supported by the European Community's Safer Internet Action Plan.

Purposes of INHOPE

• Development and support of an international network of national hotlines
• Forwarding of complaints
• Exchange of expertise
• Support of new hotlines
• Interface for initiatives inside and outside the EU
• Issuing information material to decision makers
• Development of efficient and common practises for hotline providers
• Identification of new trends in cyber crime and elaboration of counteractions

The INHOPE network offers its members the opportunity to forward complaints to the respectively responsible INHOPE partner. Consequently, complaints are treated in the particular country of their origin and thus illegal content will quickly be removed from the internet. Swift and safe exchange of information has already led to a couple of trials and convictions.
Besides exchange of complaints, INHOPE enables member hotlines to exchange their expertise and invites external experts to deliver speeches at INHOPE’s general meetings. Beyond face-to-face meetings several times a year, there are training courses, work groups, exchange programmes and a mailing list to help staff members to learn from each other and to generate a common strategy.

Detailed information on INHOPE, including its third report (PDF), is available at www.inhope.org.