Better Internet for Kids

In 2024, INHOPE’s network of EC co-funded hotlines responded to the highest volume of reports recorded to date, highlighting both the scale of the challenge and the vital role hotlines play in tackling online child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Over the course of the year, hotlines received 2.77 million reports of potentially illegal content. This significant increase was driven in large part by SafeNet Bulgaria, which detected massive volumes of CSAM hosted on Telegram’s telegra.ph platform during the second half of the year.

Out of all reports received, over 1.47 million (53.1 per cent) were flagged as confirmed or suspected CSAM. These included:

• 26,243 reports of self-generated content,
• 17,493 reports of non-self-generated content,
• 3,056 reports of sexualised posing or modelling,
• 3,430 reports of computer-generated or virtual CSAM, and
• 196 text-based CSAM reports.

Hotlines also handled numerous reports relating to other harmful or illegal content, including:

• 357 reports of child grooming,
• 3,187 reports of hate speech,
• 333 reports of sexual extortion (sextortion), and
• 514 reports of sexual harassment.

In addition, hotlines received over 641,000 reports of spam and more than 81,000 public queries, reflecting the broad spectrum of issues hotlines are called upon to address.

Strong action and cross-border coordination

Hotlines across Europe acted swiftly in response to the influx of reports:

• 186,913 reports were forwarded to Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs),
• 138,368 reports were referred to Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and
• A record 1.86 million reports were uploaded into ICCAM, INHOPE’s secure platform supporting international cooperation and cross-jurisdictional content removal.

Much of this efficiency was made possible by advances in automation and analysis, which have enabled hotlines to identify and process harmful content more rapidly and at greater scale.

Key trends in 2024

Hotlines observed several concerning trends over the year:

Offenders are increasingly posting individual video frames rather than composite images, drastically increasing the volume of files per URL. This was particularly noticeable in forums hosted in the Netherlands.

Child Abuse Pyramid (CAP) sites remain a persistent problem. These sites frequently switch hosting providers to avoid takedown, making them harder to eliminate.

Reports of financial sexual extortion targeting young boys continue to grow, along with reports involving the distribution of CSAM created by children themselves

Conclusion

The record number of reports in 2024 is both a stark reminder of the scale of online threats and a testament to the dedication and effectiveness of INHOPE hotlines. These hotlines remain a critical first line of defence, identifying and disrupting the spread of CSAM and other harmful content across borders. Their coordinated efforts are essential to safeguarding children in the digital world.