Brussels, 15/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - Last Friday, the European Commission proposed the adoption of "Safer Internet Plus", a new programme to make the Internet safer for children in 2005-2008. Once adopted, the programme, with a budget of 50 million EUR, will build upon all the work that has been done in the EU since 1996 to fight illegal and harmful Internet content. It will encompass the new media, such as video, and new items such as unsolicited commercial communications (spam), will include the acceding countries and will be more focused on the end users: parents, teachers and children. It will mobilise talents in the public, private and associative sectors, to prepare for hard-hitting safety campaigns. Its four action lines are:
Fighting against illegal content. Hotlines are reporting mechanisms which allow members of the public to report illegal content and pass the reports onto the appropriate body for action. The Commission proposes to fund network co-ordination and individual hotlines.
Tackling unwanted and harmful content. The programme will pay for the development of technological measures allowing users to limit the volume of unwanted and harmful content they receive, or to assess the efficiency of available filtering technologies. Funding will also be available to support the development of effective filtering technology, and to promote exchanges of information and best practice on effective anti-spam enforcement.
Promoting a safer environment. The EU supports a self-regulatory approach, guaranteeing flexibility and understanding of the needs of the medium in an area combining use of high technology, rapid change and cross-border activity. The Commission will provide a platform for national co-regulatory or self-regulatory bodies to exchange experience- the Safer Internet Forum.
Awareness-raising. The Commission proposes to support systematic information about safer Internet use, especially for personalised, interactive and mobile operations, linked with other actions on media education and Internet literacy. The Commission will focus its efforts on pump-priming, encouraging the multiplier effect and exchange of best practices through a network.