How to Report Illegal Web Sites

The Internet is no different from the mean city streets when it comes to illegal activity. Illegal Web sites pop up all the time, and usually too fast for the authorities to keep track. If you stumble across an illegal Web site, it is always a good idea to report it to whatever law enforcement agency might be in charge of that area of law. For example, Web sites that violate copyright holders should be reported to the U.S. Copyright Office.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to tell if a Web site is illegal just from browsing it for a few minutes. Some sites, such as those that mirror financial institutions or Internet commerce sites, may appear to be legitimate until you are asked to give up your credit card information. Others might profess to sell legal copies of music videos or fiction novels, but actually have no such licenses. Reporting illegal Web sites is a good thing, but it can be embarrassing to report one in error.

You might have found an illegal Web site if it:

1. Mirrors another Web site. If you receive an e-mail from eBay and it says that you need to check your account for something, pay attention to the hyperlink given in the e-mail. It might take you to something like ebay135.com, which is not an actual eBay Web site. This would be an example of illegal activity, and should be reported. These Web sites collect financial information from customers and steal identities.

2. Sells media in violation of copyright laws. If a Web site doesn’t have a license to sell books or music downloads or television shows, it is probably an illegal enterprise. Check to see if the site is affiliated with a record company or production company, then contact the appropriate individuals to inquire.

3. Promotes or exploits children. Any Web site that promotes, exploits, sells or offers child pornography is illegal, and should be reported immediately. Unfortunately, these can be difficult to detect, because many sites make their over-eighteen models look younger to please pedophiles. Even if you aren’t sure, however, let the authorities sort it out.

Of course, there are other types of illegal Web sites on the Internet, but these are some of the most popular. Now you’ll want to know how to report them.

The safest way to go report illegal Web sites is to start with your local law enforcement agency. If nothing else, they can direct your concern to the appropriate party outside their jurisdiction. For example, they would direct you to the Center for Missing and Exploited Children if you found a Web site that promotes child pornography.

You should also know that local law enforcement agencies, such as your police station, can give you direct numbers to call, rather than dialing a general information hotline. Not only will this save you time and energy, but it will also ensure that your concern is investigated rapidly.

In addition to the tips given above, you should also report illegal Web sites to the site’s host – if one exists – and to any other interested parties. For example, if you found a Web site that publishes copyrighted material, you might want to report the infringement to the actual copyright holder.