Authorities ‘struggle to shut illicit websites’

INTERNATIONAL authorities are unable to act against almost half of all illegal internet sites identified by the Irish public, an industry watchdog warns.

Hotline, established by the Internet Service Providers' Association of Ireland, allows people to report suspected illegal material. It has validated around 180 such complaints since July 2001. Around 120 of such complaints related to child pornography.

Hotline's annual report claims that only around 10% of sites reported are actually deemed to contain illegal material upon investigation.