Online child abusers ‘more sophisticated’

DISTRIBUTORS of child pornography are using increasingly sophisticated techniques to conceal their online activities, says internet watchdog Hotline.ie.

Methods include the increased use of web facilities such as “cyber lockers” (an online site for storage of personal digital files) and use of peer-to-peer networks, where files can be shared directly between users.

Of 2,646 reports processed by Hotline last year, 183 were assessed as child sexual abuse. Of these, two were forwarded to An Garda Síochána, as the content was determined by Hotline analysts to be hosted in Ireland.