NSPCC Online Report Form - Not Anonymous

[chazthecarp]

The NSPCC's online reporting tool is NOT anonymous. It records the IP address of the computer that made the report and the NSPCC can see it at the other end. They pass this data to Police, who, if deem the report is malicious, can find the house it belongs to and arrest the reporter. I thought IP addresses were classed as personal data? Don't like this at all, it takes guts to make a genuine report.

[Dvallin]

I doubt they often chase it up.

Malicious reports devastate families though.

For as long as your children are under 18, you never again feel secure in your parenting.

They absolutely should be able to trace people making reports.

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

Nothing you do on the Internet is anonymous. It can always be tracked back to an IP address (and usually a MAC address too) if someone wants it badly enough.

My understanding was that the IP address is recorded but not accessed unless the report is strongly felt to be malicious, and then it is only accessed by the police.

If you're making a genuine report, this is nothing of concern at all - although as I said, if it needs to be absolutely anonymous, I wouldn't use the Internet. Few things in the world can't be tracked these days and the Internet definitely isn't one of them.

[nightpiano]

There's a difference between raising concerns which turn out to be unfounded and making a purely malicious report.

Having social services picking over your parenting is a terribly frightening experience. They were involved with my family after I called the police about domestic violence and, although they had no concerns in the end, they were very sniffy about me co-sleeping with my children and breastfeeding my toddler. It made me totally paranoid, and was so stressful.

Somebody who deliberately makes allegations which they know to be untrue absolutely does need to be arrested and charged!

[Xenia]

Are people aware of this when they report it? If not the NSPCC should make that clear on the website before people agree to report anything.

There is a female lawyer suing a law firm at present as she was not prepared for data about a sex assault or something like that being reported to anyone as she wanted no publicity, no action and to be able to get on with her career, but that was reported to the authorities and she is now suing the firm who disclosed it. people need to know what use will be made of data. If you are not sure best not to get involved sadly.

[JustAnotherLawyer]

Alternatively, pick up the phone, put 141 before you dial the number (withholds your number) and make your anonymous referral that way.

I would hate to think that a thread like this would prevent a neighbour or family member from reporting suspected abuse because they think they will be traceable.

Yes, we all know there are malicious people out there who make reports for 'fun', but anonymity is often key in these types of cases, and many a child has been saved because someone reported their suspicions anonymously.

[Prokupatuscrakedatus]

When I felt the need to report concerns about a child to the authorities I did so under my full name - why should I do this anonymously.
They were genuine and well founded concerns, submitted in a neutral way. Turned out I was not the only one and the child was put in foster care because they were very much neglected and maltreated.

[Lazypuppy]

Your post makes no sense. If you raise a genuine concern, no problem. If you make a malicious report you should be traced!!

[prh47bridge]

Are these helplines just a front for gathering information

No, they are not just a front but they will gather information if it seems appropriate. The NSPCC don't have access to telephone company records so can't find out who you are. You don't need to do anything.

The bigger concern for me would be that the person you spoke to at the NSPCC saw a possible safeguarding issue. It may be that they were wrong. But people who aren't trained in safeguarding often don't recognise indicators that there are safeguarding issues. Even if you gave them details of the other child, all that would happen at this stage is that the information would be logged appropriately. No investigation would take place unless there were enough reports to cause concern.

[prh47bridge]

As I say, the helpline operator doesn't have access to the telephone company's records. They don't know who you are.

[Notsurprisedatall]

If you use a VPN, they can not trace you online, everyone should be using one.

[prh47bridge]

If you use a VPN, they can not trace you online

That is a common myth. It is not true.

Whatever your VPN service says, the truth is that they keep logs. They have to. You can't run a server without logs. And, of course, those logs are available to law enforcement agencies. For example, Cody Kretsinger was identified by the FBI as Lulzsec member "Recursion" after the UK-based VPN he was using was forced to hand over data to the authorities.

Of course, VPNs vary in how much data they keep. Some make it difficult for the authorities. But, once the authorities have a court order giving them access to the VPN provider's data, they will be able to trace you.

[Notsurprisedatall]

Well obviously you don't buy the first one you come across. The one I use from the U.S doesn't even have my name or email address and allows me to use U.S Netflix service.
With anything, shop around to find the best deal and service.

[prh47bridge]

You are still traceable. Your IP address is in their logs (the ones they keep to make their servers work, even though they claim they don't have any) even if they don't have any other information about you. Their logs allow the authorities to tie your IP address to the sites you visit using the VPN. And, once they have your IP address, they know who your ISP is and your ISP can tell them who you are.

The example I gave in my last post re Cody Kretsinger is by no means the only one. There are multiple instances of law enforcement authorities tracing people who thought they were safe because they used a VPN.

A VPN gives you privacy. It does not give you anonymity, whatever the provider claims. There is nothing available that gives you complete anonymity on the internet. Every service has some information that can be pieced together with information from elsewhere to identify you.