Use the French PHAROS platform to report cross-illegal content and behavior online.
Since 2009, French Internet users have been able to report illegal messages and content that they may come across online, on a dedicated platform. PHAROS, that’s its name (Platform for Harmonization, Cross-Reference Analysis and Referral Orientation), is an online service dependent on the Central Office for the fight against crime related to technology. information and communication.
Internet users can denounce illegal content and behavior encountered on the web. These may be acts of pedophilia and child pornography, racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia, incitement to racial, ethnic and religious hatred, acts of terrorism and advocacy of terrorism as well as financial scams. using the internet. All content on the web (websites, blogs, forums, social networks and messaging) can be flagged there.
The content reported on PHAROS is then checked by police officers and gendarmes assigned to the platform to ensure that they constitute an infringement of French law. They are then transferred to the competent services for an investigation to be opened. If the reports are made anonymously, PHAROS still records the IP addresses of their transmitters without being able to identify them, only the operators having knowledge of the identity of the subscriber attached to an IP address. However, if for the purposes of the investigation the identification of the IP address of the issuer is necessary, it can only be done after the authorization of the Public Prosecutor.
In any case, if you come across illegal content during your travels on the web, do not share it, do not like it and report it immediately on the PHAROS platform. Here’s how to do it.
1. Go to PHAROS
To report illegal content or behavior that you encounter while browsing, go directly to the PHAROS reporting platform from your web browser.
>>> Report illegal content on PHAROS <<<
2. Make a report
When you arrive on the main page of the PHAROS platform, you can, if you wish, inquire before reporting. From the left column, you will be able to find Questions and Answers, and many tips to thwart Internet traps, protect your computer, etc.
Once this information has been taken, you can start your report by clicking on the Report button.
The next page asks you to confirm that your report does not require immediate police or emergency response. Assaults, accidents and fires, for example, must be reported directly by calling 17, the police emergency number.
Check the box to confirm that your report does not concern matters requiring immediate intervention by the emergency services and click on Next step.
3. Define the type of content to report
The next page of the report form allows you to choose the type of content you want to report. Among the proposals displayed, some will not allow you to continue your report online. The reason is simple, certain facts must be dealt with directly by means of a complaint lodged with a police or gendarmerie service.
4. Indicate the date and time of the finding
You will then be asked to indicate the time and date on which you noticed the presence of this illegal content online. You will also have to indicate the type of online medium on which you have been confronted with this content (website, blog, forum, social networks, etc.). Then click on Next step.
5. Enter the URL of illegal content
Depending on the medium on which you may have seen illegal content, the next page will ask you to indicate the URL allowing access to it, and in the case of a messaging or a forum, for example, the e-mail address or nickname of the user you wish to report.
In addition to the URL, if you wish, you can add a comment that can help the departments concerned in their investigation. You will also have to indicate if you have already reported this content to an official service.
6. Add your information
This step is optional, as the reports can obviously be anonymous. However, you can choose to leave your contact details if you feel, for example, that your report may merit further details. The police services that will handle your report can then contact you for more information.
7. Validate your report
The last step will allow you to display a quick summary of the elements indicated in your report. You will not be able to modify anything during this last step. If an item is found to be missing, you must click on the Back button to go back to complete the information in your report.
Then carry out the manipulation requested by the “captcha” and which makes it possible to verify that the report is indeed carried out by a human. You can then click on the Validate button to send your report to the specialized services in charge of the PHAROS platform.