Ranked number 1 for the highest prevalence of hosting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in Europe, the Netherlands has a major challenge on its hands.
However, meaningful change in the continent is underway, and it’s being driven by a Dutch organization.
Supported by the EU, Offlimits is leading the struggle to create a safer online world by preventing and combatting online sexual (child) abuse in the Netherlands and the wider European Union.
In this article we will highlight how their hugely important work has been making waves across mainstream media.
The power of publicity
Offlimits’ hugely important work, often unseen and operating behind the scenes, has recently been brought into the spotlight through impactful mainstream media coverage. This attention has highlighted their tireless efforts to combat CSAM, offering the public a rare glimpse into the challenges they face and the impact of their mission.
The recent media focus included two significant features – a short documentary titled 10 Reports in 10 Minutes aired on Dutch television (NPO2) and a comprehensive article published in NRC, a leading Dutch newspaper.
These pieces underscored the importance of raising awareness about CSAM while showcasing Offlimits’ critical role in tackling the issue.
Together, they not only amplified the reach of Offlimits’ message but also provided a fitting end to a very productive 2024, setting the stage for even greater progress in 2025.
The shocking reality of CSAM
The 10 Reports in 10 Minutes documentary took viewers inside the daily work of Eko, one of the analysts at the Dutch CSAM Hotline. Tasked with reviewing and assessing reports of CSAM, Eko and his colleagues sift through an overwhelming volume of disturbing content to issue Notice and Takedown requests, ensuring the swift removal of illegal material.
In 2023 alone, the Hotline processed over 500,000 URLs, with 268,912 confirmed to contain illegal material.
What really set this documentary apart was its approach: rather than showing explicit imagery, the film relied on Eko’s detailed descriptions of the content he reviews. This method provided viewers with a visceral understanding of the problem’s scale while maintaining respect and integrity. The result was a stark, sobering picture of the toll CSAM takes on both victims and those working to combat it.
The reactions to the documentary were overwhelmingly positive. Offlimits received public messages of admiration, spontaneous donations, and even job applications from individuals inspired by the organization’s mission.
Viewers praised the film’s ability to portray the intensity of the work without exploiting its subject matter, further emphasizing the importance of the Helpwanted and Stop it Now teams within Offlimits.
The challenges with “bad hosters”
To coincide with the documentary, NRC, one of the Netherlands’ most respected newspapers, published an extensive report about Offlimits titled, “These six people see the worst of what goes around on the internet.”
Adopting a “fly-on-the-wall” perspective, the article provided an intimate look at the day-to-day efforts of the Hotline team. Over several months, the journalist observed how the analysts methodically tackle the deluge of reports, support one another, and maintain their resilience in the face of such harrowing work.
Written with both humor and respect, the piece not only highlighted the operational side of combating CSAM but also explored broader systemic issues, such as the role of bad hosters and the history of the fight against this pervasive problem.
Madeleine van der Bruggen, Deputy Director of Offlimits explains that bad hosters are “hosting companies that do not cooperate with us. They host large amounts of illegal material, and they do not respond to our requests to take them offline.”
She is, however, keen to point out that most hosting companies in the Netherlands cooperate very well with Offlimits, responding quickly to and acting on requests from their analysts.
Like the NPO2 documentary, the reaction to the in-depth feature was huge.
Offlimits received a wave of support in the form of heartfelt postcards and spontaneous donations. The article also resonated with politicians and policymakers, sparking questions in the Dutch parliament about strengthening measures to combat CSAM.
The ripple effect of media coverage
For Offlimits, this recent media coverage has been invaluable.
Awareness is the first step toward action – it educates the public, empowers policymakers, and inspires industry collaboration with stakeholders like web hosters.
“The media helps us amplify our message, reach more people, and encourage systemic change,” says Madeleine.
Both the documentary and newspaper feature dispelled common misconceptions about CSAM.
Rather than being confined to the dark web, it often appears on mainstream platforms. Furthermore, a huge amount of this content is self-generated by children under coercion or enticement, adding complexity to the issue.
This increased exposure has also helped highlight the diversity of individuals engaging with CSAM, challenging stereotypes of old men with long beards in shady basements and emphasizing preventative measures like Offlimits’ Stop it Now program, which offers help to those at risk of offending.
The journey towards a safer, cleaner internet
Openprovider is proud to stand with Offlimits in their critical mission to combat CSAM and foster a safer, cleaner internet.
This collaboration not only supports Offlimits’ crucial work around prevention and policy advancements, but also serves to educate Openprovider customers about the real and pervasive threats their websites face from illegal content.
We encourage hosting providers to use Offlimits’ Hash Check Service to scan their data for known CSAM. This leads to both the faster detection and removal of this illegal content, ensuring the integrity and security of the websites they manage.
Together, with the support of our community and industry partners, we can create an online environment that is safe for future generations.
Join us in amplifying this mission by sharing this feature article with the hashtag #WeStandWithOfflimits.
