Safer Internet Centre of Moldova Hosts INHOPE visit as part of the Quality Assurance Programme
On 17–18 September 2026, the Safer Internet Centre of Moldova hosted Samantha Woolfe, Executive Director of INHOPE – the international network bringing together 58 hotlines from more than 53 countries, specializing in combating Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) online. The visit took place as part of INHOPE’s Quality Assurance Programme (QAP), through which member hotlines […]
On 17–18 September 2026, the Safer Internet Centre of Moldova hosted Samantha Woolfe, Executive Director of INHOPE – the international network bringing together 58 hotlines from more than 53 countries, specializing in combating Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) online.
The visit took place as part of INHOPE’s Quality Assurance Programme (QAP), through which member hotlines are periodically assessed. The evaluation focuses on compliance with operational, technical and security standards, maintaining compliance with INHOPE requirements, as well as identifying opportunities to further strengthen the services’ activities.
During the visit, the working processes and practices of the SigurOnline Hotline were reviewed, including the way reports concerning Child Sexual Abuse Material are received, analysed and processed, as well as aspects related to cooperation with national authorities. The challenges encountered in day-to-day operations and the support needs for the further development of the service were also discussed with the team of analysts.
The International Center “La Strada” has been a full member of the INHOPE network since 2023. Through the SigurOnline Hotline, Moldova has a specialized national service for reporting Child Sexual Abuse Material online, connected to international mechanisms for the identification and removal of such content.
An important part of the assessment process is the development of recommendations and, where appropriate, the identification of requirements for strengthening internal processes and working practices. These are formulated taking into account the national context, the applicable legal framework and existing cooperation mechanisms with law enforcement authorities. The assessment also covers compliance with international standards for the classification and processing of reports concerning CSAM and ensuring their referral for the prompt removal of illegal content.
Cooperation with national authorities is an essential component of the SigurOnline Hotline’s work. In this context, Samantha Woolfe, together with the Digital Safety Center team, participated in a meeting with Iurie Roșca, Head of the Cybercrime Prevention and Combating Center of the National Inspectorate of Public Security within the General Inspectorate of Police.
The meeting provided an opportunity to present the cooperation mechanism between the SigurOnline Hotline and the Police, including how reports received by the service are forwarded to the competent authorities and subsequently examined as part of investigative processes.
In turn, Iurie Roșca presented the actions undertaken at the institutional level to examine and investigate reports submitted by the SigurOnline Hotline, contributing to a better understanding of the stages and responsibilities involved in the response mechanism.
Following the visit, Samantha Woolfe commended the work carried out by the SigurOnline Hotline and the team’s efforts to strengthen response mechanisms in the area of preventing and combating child sexual abuse online.
The exchange of experience and expertise within the INHOPE network contributes to the continuous strengthening of the SigurOnline Hotline’s capacities and to aligning its working practices with applicable international standards.
We thank Samantha Woolfe and the INHOPE team for their openness, expertise and constructive dialogue.
