EESC endorses Commission Internet safety programme, but calls for additional legislation
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has said that it broadly supports the Commission's proposed Safer Internet Plus Programme, but highlights a pressing need for additional legislative measures to ensure a safer use of the Internet, particularly for children. The Commission put forward proposals for a new 50 million euro Safer Internet Plus Programme (2005 to 2008) in March, designed to build upon EU efforts underway since 1996 to combat illegal and harmful Internet content. A draft EESC opinion goes further, however, suggesting a number of legislative measures that could be taken to make the Internet safer for children. 'There should be a general obligation incumbent on operators, i.e. Internet providers, to protect children. Ordering of child pornography and other criminal content using credit cards should be prevented,' the opinion begins. 'Systems should also be set up to identify and provide information on harmful content and to remove racist content,' it continues. The EESC rapporteurs for the opinion, Daniel Retureau and Ann Davidson, said jointly: 'European consumers must be able to use the Internet with confidence. It is therefore essential that the European Union takes urgent action to safeguard what is a precious tool for the European citizen.'