This year on the occasion of the Safer Internet Day, the colleagues of the Hungarian Internet Hotline (IH) organised an internal event, a Hotline Open Day for the complete authority they are part of. The Hungarian hotline which handles reports in eight different reporting categories – including Data Phishing, Content Made Accessible Without Consent besides CSAM – is operated by the National Media and Infocommunications Authority since 2011.

The aim of the event was to bring participants closer to the work of the legal advisory service and to raise awareness of the importance of seeking timely help in case of online abuse. In addition, the hotline analysts wanted to show their colleagues what support and assistance they could offer.

The idea for this internal event was based on two factors: firstly, the Open Day is a well-known and international practice, with hotlines in other countries having organised similar events for their own colleagues, and secondly, an increasing number of NMHH staff have been contacting IH about their own or their family members' concerns, especially those of their children. Online abuse is unfortunately on the rise, which is why the IH felt it was important to showcase for colleagues the options available for them in immediate vicinity.

During the Open Day, colleagues were given two presentations on the IH's work, both of which attracted considerable interest. During the rest of the day, the IH office was open to the public, and IH staff welcomed the curious colleagues in informal discussions. The extraordinary activity of the hotline in relation with SID, has been proved to be successful within the authority with a staff number of several hundreds. Participants actively asked questions, shared their own experiences, thoughts and concerns.

The IH analysts are confident that the colleagues also found the meeting useful and that they were able to get closer to the workings of the hotline. It is hoped that this will encourage more people to seek help if they become victims of online abuse or encounter such incidents.