Promoting safe use of the Internet
The European Commission has put forward a proposal for a Community Action Plan on promoting safe use of the Internet. The Action Plan, which would cover the years 1998 to 2001, is closely linked with the Commission communication and proposal for a Recommendation of 19 November 1997, which outlines political measures for the protection of minors and human dignity in the audio-visual services. The Action Plan identifies a number of areas in which concrete measures are needed and could be supported by the European Union. These include: - The creation of a European network of centres (known as hot lines) allowing users of the Internet to report content which they consider to be illegal; - The development of self regulation and content-monitoring schemes by access providers, content providers and network operators; - Internationally compatible and interoperable rating and filtering schemes to protect users, especially children against undesirable content; - Measures to increase awareness among parents, teachers, children and other consumers. The Commission also proposes the organization of an international conference on promoting safe use of the Internet. This would bring together industry, user, consumer and citizens rights groups and government bodies involved in regulation and law-enforcement.