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The internet is a fascinating media that offers us unimagined possibilities – for private, public or business purposes. The word-wide data transfer within seconds, access to up-to-date information as well as the unrestricted presentation of contents are just some of the internet’s advantages. But exactly here are also the dangers of the internet. The world-wide network is also misused for spreading illegal contents. The association of the Austrian internet service providers (ISPA) wants to protect itself and its customers and to contribute in fighting illegal activities on the internet. For this purpose it offers a special service: the Stopline. The Stopline is a contact point for persons that come across illegal material on the internet. Its fields of activity are child pornographic and national socialist contents. The Stopline is operated by the association of the Austrian internet service providers, the ISPA. The formal foundation of the so-called “ISPA-Hotline” took place in November 1998 in accordance with the Federal Ministry of the Interior. Today the Stopline is a publicly authorised and accepted report office. The Stopline closely cooperates with the Federal Ministry of the Interior (Criminal Intelligence Service Austria and Federal Angency for State Protection and Counter Terrorism), and with the internet service providers in connection with the ISPA. An extensive cooperation with the public authorities also requires periodic meetings in order to exchange the technical knowledge between the agents, especially with regard to new services and possibilities of the internet and the mobile communication, which becomes more and more important.
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