10% of reported images shown to be child sexual abuse

An Irish hotline established to tackle online images of child sexual abuse has processed over 5,000 confirmed reports of illegal material in its 18-year history, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

The head of the service warned TDs and senators that a single report “may equate to hundreds of images and or videos”.

Ana Niculescu, the manager of Hotline.ie told the Oireachtas committee on children and youth affairs that it has received more than 50,000 reports since it was founded in 1999 by an association representing over 50 internet service providers including Google, Eir, 3, BT and Vodafone.