Keeping a close eye
on the internet

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) operates the only internet "hotline" in the UK for reporting illegal images on the web

Working in partnership with police, government, the internet and mobile industries, the IWF provides this free service for the general public which is aimed at minimising the availability of this content to protect internet consumers.

What do we mean by illegal images on the web? This means images and in some cases text, which you see or may be exposed to, which contains any of the following:

• Child abuse images (also known as “child pornography”)
• Criminally obscene content which means images featuring acts of “extreme” sexual activity
• Content (words and images) which may incite racial hatred by reference to skin colour, race, nationality, or ethnic origin.

Don’t ignore it, report it!

If you genuinely stumble across such images or are inadvertently exposed to them, you must report them to the IWF or the police. You must not deliberately seek out potentially illegal child abuse images because purposely viewing them is a serious criminal offence.

Why should I report these images?

Reports from the public enable us to work with our partners at home and abroad to combat this content and, where possible, have it removed and those responsible for publishing the images investigated. This makes the internet a safer place for everyone. Child abuse images reflect the real abuse of a child and your reports to the hotline might help the authorities to trace and rescue a young victim from further abuse.

How do I report?

Go to the IWF website: www.iwf.org.uk and complete the step-by-step form. The form is easy to navigate and reports can be submitted anonymously.

For more information, visit: website: www.iwf.org.uk

 

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