Providing the NIFC Hotline (National Initiative for Children Hotline) is the latest addition to a series of NASK's projects that aim to support Internet safety.

NASK had already established a CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) back in 1996 to help all users who came across threats on the Web. The experience and knowledge of the team laid the foundations for the hotline.

The hotline enables people to report illegal content they find on the Internet 24 hours a day. Whether reporting by telephone, fax or online web form, privacy is assured.

The hotline cooperates closely with the police, and forwards reports for their follow-up. The team also works with telecommunications operators and content providers to remove illegal content from the Web.

The hotline was created as part of the pan-European "Safer Internet Action Plan" programme launched by the European Commission. This action supports the establishment of national hotlines. There are currently 16 such contact points in Europe, associated in INHOPE (the Internet Hotline Providers in Europe Association).

NASK’s proposal for a hotline was approved by the European Commission in October 2004. The hotline is co-financed by the European Commission and NASK itself.

The hotline project has gained official support from major public institutions: the Children's Ombudsman, UNESCO, the Ministry of National Education and Sport, the Police Headquarters, and the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection.

The hotline also works with non-profit, non-governmental organisations Nobody's Children Foundation (Fundacja Dzieci Niczyje) and the KidProtect Foundation.

www.hotline.org.pl