LOS ANGELES — The Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) has announced a sharp increase in the use of its CP Reporting Hotline, which has seen record reporting volumes during the months of September and October.
Founded in 1996, ASACP is a non-profit organization dedicated to online child protection, with one of its key initiatives being the long-running CP Reporting Hotline.
Currently averaging 8,163 reports per month in 2012, ASACP’s CP Reporting Hotline saw record use in September, with 16,927 reports; and then again in October, with 19,426 total reports, representing a doubling of the year’s prior monthly average.
Comparing this amount with 2011’s monthly average of 4,890 reports reveals a startling growth rate.
“The ASACP in its 16 year history has never experienced such high reporting volume,” ASACP Executive Director Tim Henning stated. “The data reveals that there is not only a continued need for the services provided by ASACP, but that this need is growing.”
According to the association, its CP Reporting Hotline receives reports of questionable material from Internet users including concerned parents and others. After careful review, confirmed “Red Flag” reports of illegal child pornography are sent to law enforcement agencies around the world, resulting in the closure of high-profile CP websites and the disruption of online activities involving the exploitation of children.
The CP Reporting Hotline is supported by ASACP’s sister organization, The ASACP Foundation, which also finances the Restricted To Adults (RTA) website labeling program, a free technology that allows content filtering software to exclude pages containing this self-regulatory tag. This better protects minors and other Internet viewers from accidental exposure to age-inappropriate materials.
“ASACP delivers free tools and services for protecting children, along with expert guidance for digital content publishers as to how they can become better corporate citizens,” Henning explains. “But we can only accomplish this task with your help and with the ongoing help of our sponsors, members and contributors.”
For more information, contact tim@asacp.org.