About Us

What is exactly an internet hotline?

The Hotline offers an online reporting facility for the public to report illegal, harmful or abusive online content  including child sexual abuse material (and other harmful contents). The Hotline will ensure that the reports are investigated and if found to be illegal the information will be passed to the relevant Law Enforcement Agency and in many cases the Internet Service Provider hosting the content.

The Biztonsagosinternet Hotline was set up in May 2011 in the context of the EU Safer Internet Programme. The hotline is part of the Hungarian Safer Internet Centre and is operated by International Children's Safety Service.

The hotline is a member of INHOPE, the Association of Internet Hotlines since 2012. The hotline complies with the Code of Practice of INHOPE.

 

 

What types of reports does the hotline handle?

The Biztonsagosinternet Hotline takes reports in the categories below:

  • Child sexual abuse material
  • Cyberbullying
  • Racism and xenophobia
  • Violent and offensive contents
  • Enticement for drug consumption
  • Content made accesible without permission
  • Other harmful contents 
How to submit a report?

To make an online report, the online reporting form needs to be filled. This form is available under the 'Report' menu point

If you would like to receive feedback, the hotline analysist will contact you regarding the status of your report.

Can anonymous reports be submitted?

Yes, based on the INHOPE requirements, the Biztonságosinternet Hotline provides the option to submit reports anonymously. In the course of the submission process, the hotline does not log any technical detail on the reporting person.

What happens if a report is made?

Every incoming report is examined and investigated upto the extent of the hotline's remit.

The first question in the analysis procedure is determining the whether the content reported is illegal or not, does it have any Hungarian relevance or not, does Hungarian police have any competency or not. In case the report turns out to contain illegal content, the hotline geolocates the country of competence. If the content has any Hungarian competency, the hotline proceeds to the appropriate local authority and ISP or content host.

If the content is not illegal and does not have any Hungarian competency, the hotline assists the reporter with practical advice on options of nitice and takedown (if possible).

The Biztonságosinternet Hotline handles prohibited pornographic, racist contents in priority as well as content dangerous for minors.  

The figure below demonstrates the procedures of the hotline.

 

Illegal and unlawful content in Hungarian Criminal Code

Before making a report, it is advisable to investigate wheter the content in question is against the law or not. To help, we provide a brief extract from the Hungarian Criminal Code to make the judgement.,

Prohibited Pornographic Material (Child Sexual Abuse materials)

Section 204. 
(1)Any person in possession of pornographic recording of a person or persons under the age of 18 is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment of up to three years.

(2)Any person who offers, conveys and/or distributes or makes available pornographic recording of a person or persons under the age of 18 is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment of up to five years.

(3)Any person who produces pornographic recording of a person or persons under the age of 18, and/or distributes or makes such pornographic recording available to the general public is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment between two to eight years.

(4)A person having a person or persons under the age of 18 participating in a pornographic recording shall be punishable in accordance with Subsection (3) above.

(5)The person providing financial means and thus assisting in the commission of the crimes defined in Subsections (3)-(4) shall be punished by imprisonment between two to eight years.

(6)Any person who instigates a person or persons under the age of 18 to participate in a pornographic recording or in a pornographic show, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of up to two years, community service work, or a fine.

(7) For the purposes of this Section: a) ‘recording’ means a recording made by video, film or photographic equipment or by any other technical means,  b) ‘pornographic image’ means any image that displays sexuality in a gravely indecent manner of exposure specifically for arousing sexual demeanor, c) ‘pornographic show’ means an act to display sexuality in a gravely indecent manner of exposure specifically for arousing sexual demeanor.

Harassment (Grooming, Cyberbullying)

Section 176/A.
(1) Any person who engages in conduct intended to intimidate another person, to disturb the privacy of or to upset, or cause emotional distress to another person, or who is engaged in the pestering of another person on a regular basis, such as frequently making unsolicited calls to another person by way of telecommunications equipment or actually harassing another person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, community service work, or a fine, if such act does not result in a criminal act of greater gravity.

Incitement of racial, religious and ethnic hatred

Section 269.

Any person who incites to hatred before great publicity against:
a) the Hungarian nation;
b) any national, ethnic, racial group or certain groups of the population;
is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to three years.

Blasphemy of National Symbols

Section 269/A.

Any person who - before great publicity - uses an expression to dishonor or degrade the national anthem, the flag or the coat of arms of the Republic of Hungary, or commits any other similar act, if such act does not result in a criminal act of greater gravity, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, community service work, or a fine.

Use of Symbols of Despotism

Section 269/B.

(1) Any person who: 
a) distributes; 
b) uses before great publicity; 
c) exhibits in public;

a swastika, the SS sign, an arrow-cross, sickle and hammer, a five-pointed red star or any symbol depicting the above is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable with a fine, if such act does not result in a criminal act of greater gravity.

(2) The person who engages in the act defined in Subsection (1) for academic purposes or the purposes of education, science, or art, or with the purpose of enlightenment about the events of history or the present time, shall not be liable for prosecution.

Misuse of Narcotic Drugs (Seduction for drug consumption)

Section 282/A.

 (1) Any person who, without authorization, offers or supplies narcotic drugs or is engaged in distributing, trafficking or dealing in narcotic drugs is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for two to eight years.

About INHOPE

Founded in 1999, the International Association of Internet Hotlines - INHOPE -  coordinates a network of 46 Internet Hotlines in 42 countries across the globe, supporting them in responding to reports of illegal content to make the Internet safer. According to its mission statement, INHOPE is the global umbrella organization uniting National Internet hotlines engaged in combating online child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse material. The mission of INHOPE is to support and enhance the work of these hotlines to strengthen the International efforts to combat child sexual abuse using a multi stakeholder approach.

Biztonságosinternet Hotline is a member of INHOPE since 2012, complying with the code of practice of the association.