Pharos, the French platform for reporting illegal content on the internet, is an essential bulwark in the fight against cybercrime. Founded in 2009 by the Ministry of the Interior and managed by the Central Office for Combating Crime Related to Information and Communication Technologies (OCLCTIC), it plays a crucial role in detecting and removing illegal content.

For example, you can find:

• Incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination
• Sexual offenses against minors
• Phishing
• Prostitution, procuring and sex tourism
• Child pornography
• Counterfeiting
• Spreading false information

In 2022, Pharos received more than 2.5 million reports, of which 70% were processed. Among the most reported illegal content, we find hateful content (20%), child pornographic content (15%) and phishing content (10%).

How does Pharos work?

The strength of Pharos lies in its simplicity and accessibility. Any individual can report illegal content anonymously by going to the Pharos platform, accessible from the official website of the Ministry of the Interior. Users can report anonymously, although providing detailed information can help in the investigation process.

Once the report is received, Pharos examines the reported content and, if necessary, forwards it to the competent authorities for investigation. This cooperation between the public and law enforcement is essential to ensure a rapid and effective response to illegal activities online.

Current challenges for Pharos

However, Pharos is not without challenges, particularly in terms of cyberbullying. Problems such as lack of human and financial resources, difficulty identifying perpetrators, legislation deemed insufficient, and under-reporting by victims make the fight against cyberbullying complex.

Potential solutions, such as increasing OCLCTIC resources, developing anti-anonymity tools online, improving training for justice professionals, and increased awareness of cyberbullying, are suggested to strengthen Pharos's effectiveness.

Current Challenges of Pharos in the Fight Against Cyberbullying

Pharos is currently facing several major problems, particularly in the area of cyberbullying. These complex challenges affect various aspects, from lack of resources to insufficient legislation.

Indeed, OCLCTIC, in charge of Pharos, suffers from understaffing and budgetary constraints, leading to delays in processing reports. This situation can discourage victims from reporting incidents, underlining the need to strengthen the organization's resources.

Cyberbullying and anonymity

Moreover, cyberbullying is accompanied by the major issue of online anonymity which does not easily identify the sender of messages, making prosecution of perpetrators particularly difficult. To do this, Pharos must collaborate with online platforms, however, this cooperation can sometimes be difficult due to privacy issues and the complexity of cross-border legal procedures.

Discouraging legislation?

French legislation on cyberbullying is often considered insufficient, with penalties still relatively low. This gap can discourage victims from filing complaints. Additionally, if the detractor is not in France and therefore from a different jurisdiction, this further complicates the coordination of investigations and legal prosecution.

Solid evidence will also be needed to support accusations. Gathering electronic evidence while respecting legal procedures can quickly become a challenge.

Legitimate obstacles?

Finally, these multiple causes, accompanied by fear of retaliation, fear of not being taken seriously, or doubt about obtaining justice mean that many cyberbullying victims do not report the offense.

Facing these challenges, several solutions

• Increasing OCLCTIC resources to recruit more specialized staff to strengthen report processing capabilities.
• Fighting anonymity and impunity online by developing new tools (like SafeBear) to facilitate identification of cyberbullying perpetrators and strengthen online traceability.
• Implementing more awareness campaigns to prevent risky behavior and encourage victims to report incidents.

A Call for Coordinated Action:

The current problems faced by Pharos in the fight against cyberbullying underline the need for coordinated action and the development of new means, whether technical or legislative. By strengthening resources, improving legislation and raising public awareness, France can progress towards a safer and fairer online environment. The complexity of investigations and the rapid evolution of technologies require continuous adaptation of strategies and resources to meet the changing challenges of the digital world.