Commission makes Internet safer - arrests in Sweden
The first arrests have been made under the European Commission's 'Safer Internet action plan' launched in 1999. The best example is the arrest of suspects involved in what is alleged to be Sweden's largest child pornography ring - the first concrete example of the actions plan having led directly to charges. Two arrests were made in January, 10 people were questioned and at least 50 people were suspected of being in the Swedish ring, which police broke by carrying out raids on seven different locations. They were working on information supplied by the Save the children hotline, which is co-funded by the Safer Internet action plan. Further arrests were likely the police said. The projects under the plan bring together Internet service providers, content providers, users, researchers and national authorities in an attempt to provide solutions for a safer Internet. They also aim to increase awareness of the opportunities and pitfalls associated with Internet use. Hotlines, such as the one which helped lead to the arrests in Sweden, have been promoted and funded. Increased awareness of the activities involved in the action plan is planned through both its dedicated website (see URL below) and meetings, mailings and newsletters. The action plan is presently looking to finance projects which can help in the filtering/rating sites and products. A call for tenders was launched in December 2000 (closing date is 31 May 2001) with the aim of making it easier for users such as teachers and parents to have a filtering or rating system which will help them to measure web content that may be viewed by pupils and children. Promotion of this system is also planned.