EU programme gets money, software and intelligence

Microsoft has signed a memorandum of understanding with the EU to provide partial funding for the International Association of Internet Hotline Providers (Inhope), a network of centres including the UK's Internet Watch Foundation that allows users to report illegal content.

The Redmond giant will fund 20 per cent of Inhope directly, providing hundreds of thousands of pounds as well as over £300,000 worth of software licences.

In addition Microsoft will share some of its own intelligence on illegal websites and the people who build and host them.

"We are very proud of this," said Nick McGrath, head of platform strategy for Microsoft in the UK, at Infosec Europe. "It's a topic close to the hearts of many of our employees."

Microsoft has also committed ongoing funding for Inhope staff training in an effort to build on the successful Microsoft-funded programme for 18 hotlines in 2005, and will cover advanced website tracing and media relations.

"Illegal content on the internet, including child pornography and religious hatred and race hatred sites, is an issue that no single organisation can battle alone," said Inhope chief executive Cormac Callanan.

"When members of the public report illegal sites to their national hotline the problem often lies beyond their borders, so the broader the Inhope footprint the better equipped we are to tackle this problem.

"This memorandum of understanding puts a formal structure in place for a relationship that has been strong for many years."