The European Commission has launched a public consultation to identify the most effective ways of making online and mobile phone services safer for users, especially for children. The objective of this initiative is to help the Commission to decide whether to follow up on the Safer Internet plus programme, whose current phase comes to a close at the end of 2008.
The consultation, launched on 12 April 2007, will run until 07 June 2007 and cover some of the themes at the centre of the Safer Internet programme, such as combating illegal and harmful content and regulating user-generated content and on-line communication content.
The use of the internet, mobile phones, consoles and digital television by children is becoming more and more the norm in Europe. While this brings advantages and opportunities, there are also risks for users. For children, the most serious risks come from exposure to bullying, harassment and online grooming for sexual abuse (i.e. strangers ''making friends'' with children with a view to meeting them). Furthermore the internet has become the main channel for distributing child pornography.
Currently there are a large number of bodies - public administration in the Member States, childcare organisations, industry, financial institutions, schools, parents and the European Commission - working towards making a safer online environment for children. In this consultation the Commission calls upon these organisations and everyone with a contribution to make, to put their views forward.
Contributions can be sent by email to saferinternetconsultation@ec.europa.eu or by post.
Further information:
- Documento da consulta pública - Safer Internet and online Technologies for children http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/sip/docs/public_consultation_prog/pc_2007_info_en.pdf
- Questionários da consulta pública http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/sip/docs/public_consultation_prog/pc_2007_quest_en.doc
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Safer Internet: assessment of content filtering programs https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=453946
- Safer Internet Programme Benchmarking of Filtering Software and Services, Deloitte, December 2006 https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=453921
- European Safer Internet Day https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=454020
- Public consultation on the protection of minors using mobile phones https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=388607
- EU - European Union https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=66653
- Information society https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=118259
