1Luxembourg 12 September 2003

Public consultation Public consultation 12 September 200312 September 2003

Horst ForsterHorst ForsterDirector, INFSO/EDirector, INFSO/E

European CommissionEuropean Commission

Safer Internet plus Safer Internet plus 2005 - 20082005 - 2008

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The problemThe problem

• Illegal, harmful and unwanted content and conduct on the Internet is a continuing concern for lawmakers, industry and parents

• New challenges both in quantitative (more “illegal” content) and qualitative terms (new platforms, new products: videos)

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New challenges New challenges

• Ever-increasing processing power and storage capacity of computers

• Broadband allowing distribution of content such as video

• 3G mobile telephones will be able to distribute "adult" content - how to restrict access by children to this type of content?

• More “collateral damage” to be expected

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Illegal contentIllegal content

Reports to UK hotline

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Other Illegal

Source: IWF

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SpamSpam

• Unsolicited commercial e-mail, or 'spam', creates a major problem for the development of e-commerce and the Information Society.

• Over 50 percent of global e-mail traffic will soon be spam.

• A significant proportion of spam is advertisements for illegal pornography

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New media landscape 1New media landscape 1

• New technologies and new ways of using existing technologies

• Use of new media by children will be an important part of their lives - positive, but collateral damage

• Criminals will use new media for carrying out their activities

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New media landscape 2New media landscape 2

• Distinctive feature of the Internet: atomised production, ways of ensuring secrecy, production of video-on-demand, content hosted anywhere

• Technology offers new ways of preventing and detecting crime and identifying the criminals

• Sexual exploitation of children will continue

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Who is concerned?Who is concerned?• Children, parents and teachers • Governments (national, regional and local)

and bodies responsible for industry, education, consumer protection, families, children's rights and child welfare, law enforcement authorities (police, public prosecutors and judges), and regulators (media, data protection)

• Industry including content providers, Internet service providers and mobile network operators, as well as industry self-regulatory bodies

• NGOs consumer protection, families, children's rights and child welfare, racism and xenophobia. Civil liberties activists

• Universities and research institutes

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Safer Internet plusSafer Internet plus

• Aim ?• Approach ?• Coverage ?• Actors ?• Structure ?• Duration?• Budget ?

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AimAim

• to promote safer use of the Internet and new online technologies, particularly for children, and to fight against illegal content and content unwanted by the end user.

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ApproachApproach

• Continuity: take account of lessons learned and build on the achievements of the initiatives already funded

• Enhancement: meet new threats, ensure European added-value, stimulate a multiplier effect and broaden international outreach

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Coverage 1Coverage 1

a) Fighting against illegal content? Hotlines? Only for child pornography ? What about racism ?

b) Dealing with unwanted and harmful content ? Filtering technology: Benchmarking ?Development ? Content-rating ? Quality labels ?

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Coverage 2Coverage 2

c) Promoting a safer environment: Self-regulation? Codes of conduct?

d) Awareness-raising?

e) Include spam? How to deal with it?

f) Other objectives?

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ActorsActors

How can key actors contribute moreand better to a Safer Internet ?

• Software providers ?

• ISPs ?

• Mobile operators ?

• Telecoms regulators ?

• …

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Duration/Budget?Duration/Budget?

• Duration • 4 years?• Longer-term contracts?

• Increased budget to take account of:• Scope • Geographical coverage / new

Member States

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Process and timingProcess and timing

2003• Oct Commission proposal • Dec EP & Council examine

2004• May EP 1st reading• June European Parliament

elections• June Council Common position• Dec Final adoption

2005• Implementation starts