HOTLINE

The Bulgarian Safer Internet Hotline was created in 2005 under a project co-funded by the European Commission within the framework of the Safer Internet Programme. It aims to create conditions for receiving reports for illegal and harmful content and conduct online primarily for child sexual abuse images or violence against children by other Internet users by filling an online form on the website of the hotline. After receiving the report an operator verifies the reported content, makes an initial assessement whether it is illegal or harmful for minors and takes appropriate actions, which include notifying the hosting company or organisation and / or competent authorities. The hotline allows consumers to actively contribute to decreasing the spread of child sexual abuse images and other illegal and harmful for minors content or conduct on the Internet. Thus the users get involved in the process of creating a safer online environment for minors, which increases their motivation and the human resources involved in this activity. The hotline acts also as a source of information for Internet users and especially carers, teachers and children by providing links to information and advice on the Safer Internet Centre portal site about prevention of online risks for children, possible technical tools (for filtering and monitoring online content) and measures to combat illegal and harmful content on the Internet undertaken by national authorities, the EC, other countries, international governmental and non-governmental organisations. From October 2006 the Bulgarian Hotline is a member of the International Association of Internet Hotlines INHOPE. Contact information: hotline@online.bg Safer Internet Hotline Applied Research and Communications Fund 5, Alexander Zhendov Street, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria tel +359 2 973 3000 ext. 411; 141 fax: +359 2 973 3588