SafeLine celebrates 15 years of its operation

SafeLine is the only non-police internet hotline in Greece that accepts reports for illegal online content. It started operations on 14 April 2003 with the support of the European Union and has received EU support since that time. It is now celebrating 15 years of operation.

Date 2018-04-25 Author Greek Safer Internet Centre Section awareness, hotlines

Together with the Greek Awareness Centre and Help-line.gr, SafeLine constitutes part of the Greek Safer Internet Centre (SIC), while its operation has been assigned to the Institute of Computer Science of the Foundation for Research and Technology.

As an official member of INHOPE, the International Association of Internet Hotlines, SafeLine's main priority has always been the elimination of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from the internet. While SafeLine's main focus of action is the protection of children's right to safe online use, it also deals with children's online harassment and grooming activities. Besides the child sexual offences reports, SafeLine also receives a great range of reports related to cybercrimes such as online circulation of racist and violent material, personal data violation, communication privacy breach, online fraud, defamation and incitement to suicide.

SafeLine's milestone events over its 15 years of operation include:

  • 2003: SafeLine starts co-operating with the Greek Cybercrime Unit.
  • 2005: SafeLine becomes an official member of INHOPE.
  • 2006: SafeLine starts receiving reports for illegal internet content distribution on P2P systems.
  • 2010: SafeLine starts registering reports in INHOPE's database.
  • 2010: SafeLine exceeds 4,000 reports annually.
  • 2011: SafeLine starts receiving reports via its Android application.
  • 2012: SafeLine creates webinars about its action.
  • 2015: SafeLine starts registering its CSAM reports in ICCAM (INHOPE's technology platform for supporting hotlines in their reporting and referral roles, including categorisation and hashing of content).
  • 2016: SafeLine participates in the EU Monitoring Exercise for Hate Speech online.
  • 2016: SafeLine publishes guides for child sexual abuse legislation in INHOPE's member states.
  • 2018: SafeLine has processed almost 35,000 reports since its establishment.

In order to succeed in dealing with illegal online content, SafeLine has being collaborating with the Hellenic Data Protection Authority, the Hellenic Authority for Communication Security and Privacy, with internet service providers (ISPs) and the Greek School Network. Being a Trusted Flagger/Reporter, during the last few years, the Greek hotline co-operates closely with Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter administrators, in order to contribute effectively to the removal of illegal online content.

Find out more about the work of the Greek Safer Internet Centre (SIC), including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline and youth participation services.

Find out more about the work of INHOPE.
 

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