Report - A6-0404/2008Report
A6-0404/2008
European Parliament

REPORT on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies

14.10.2008 - (COM(2008)0106 – C6‑0092/2008 – 2008/0047(COD)) - ***I

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Rapporteur: Roberta Angelilli

Procedure : 2008/0047(COD)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
A6-0404/2008
Texts tabled :
A6-0404/2008
Debates :
Votes :
Texts adopted :

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies

(COM(2008)0106 – C6‑0092/2008 – 2008/0047(COD))

(Codecision procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to the Commission proposal to the European Parliament and the Council (COM(2008)0106),

–   having regard to Article 251(2) and Article 153 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C6‑0092/2008),

–   having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Culture and Education, the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, (A6‑0404/2008),

1.  Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

2.  Considers the financial-reference amount of EUR 55 million contained in the legislative proposal for the implementation of the programme in the period from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2013 must be compatible with the ceiling laid down in subheading 1a of the 2007-2013 multi-annual financial framework (MFF);

3.  Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it intends to amend the proposal substantially or replace it with another text;

4.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and the Commission.

Amendment  1

Proposal for a decision

Recital 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(1) Internet penetration and the use of communication technologies such as mobile phones is still growing considerably in the Community and offers great opportunities, such as participation, interactivity and creativity, to all citizens alike. Risks to children and abuse of the technologies continue to exist and, because of changing technologies and societal behaviours, new risks and abuses continue to emerge. In order to encourage exploitation of the opportunities and to take advantage of the positive benefits offered by the Internet and other online technologies, measures are also needed to promote their safer use.

(1) Internet penetration and the use of communication technologies such as mobile phones is still growing considerably in the Community and offers great opportunities, such as participation, interactivity and creativity, to all citizens alike. However, risks to children and abuse of the technologies continue to exist and, because of changing technologies and societal behaviours, new risks and abuses continue to emerge. Measures need to be adopted at EU level in order to protect the physical, mental and moral integrity of children, which might be impaired by their accessing inappropriate content. Moreover, in order to encourage exploitation of the opportunities and to take advantage of the positive benefits offered by the Internet and other communication technologies, measures are also needed to promote their safer use.

Amendment  2

Proposal for a decision

Recital 4

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(4) There will be a continued need for action both in the area of content potentially harmful to children and in the area of illegal content, particularly child abuse material. The same applies to children becoming victims of harmful and illegal conduct leading to physical and psychological harm and to children being enticed to imitate such conducts causing harm to themselves and others.

(4) There will be a continued need for action both in the area of content potentially harmful to children, particularly pornographic material, and in the area of illegal content, particularly child abuse material. The same applies to children becoming victims of harmful and illegal conduct leading to physical and psychological harm and to children being enticed to imitate such conducts causing harm to themselves and others. Particular efforts should be made to explore solutions to prevent intentional proposals, through information and communication technologies, of an adult to meet a child for the purposes of committing sexual abuse or offences, while at the same time special attention should be given to the peer support system.

Amendment  3

Proposal for a decision

Recital 4 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

(4a) Action should also be aimed at preventing the victimisation of children by threats, harassment and humiliation via the Internet and/or interactive digital technologies, including mobile phones.

Amendment  4

Proposal for a decision

Recital 5

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(5) Reaching international agreement on legally binding rules is desirable, but will not be achieved rapidly. Even if such agreement is reached, it will not be enough in itself to ensure implementation of the rules or to ensure protection of those at risk.

deleted

Amendment  5

Proposal for a decision

Recital 7 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

(7a) The programme established by this Decision should, inter alia, be aimed at creating educational packages for teachers, carers and parents.

Amendment  6

Proposal for a decision

Recital 8

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(8) Evolving technologies, changes in the ways the Internet and other communication technologies are used by adults and children and shifts in societal behaviours are leading to new risks for children. The knowledge base that can be used for designing efficient actions needs to be strengthened in order to better understand these changes. Several measures and actions will have to be combined in a multi-faceted and complementary way; this will include for example the further development of supporting technologies and the promotion of best practice for codes of conduct embodying generally agreed canons of behaviour or cooperation with the industry on agreed objectives.

(8) Evolving technologies, changes in the ways the Internet and other communication technologies are used by adults and children and shifts in societal behaviours are leading to new risks for children. The knowledge base that can be used for designing efficient actions needs to be strengthened in order to better understand these changes. Several measures and actions will have to be combined in a multi-faceted and complementary way; this will include, for example, taking measures to promote a safe and responsible use of the Internet, the further development of supporting technologies and the promotion of best practice for codes of conduct embodying generally agreed canons of behaviour or cooperation with the industry on agreed objectives.

Amendment  7

Proposal for a decision

Recital 8 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

(8a) The programme should further support measures to encourage positive content for children.

Amendment  8

Proposal for a decision

Recital 8 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(8b) The changing media landscape, resulting from new technologies and media innovation, makes it necessary to teach children, as well as parents, carers and educators, to use on-line information services safely and effectively.

Amendment  9

Proposal for a decision

Recital 8 c (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(8c) Efforts should be made to protect children through the development of, for example, effective age verification systems and voluntary certification labels.

Amendment  10

Proposal for a decision

Recital 9 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

(9a) All the Member States have ratified the 20 November 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, pursuant to which the States are required to adopt any national, bilateral and multilateral measures which are needed in order to prevent any form of child exploitation, and to adopt any legislative, administrative and other measures which are necessary for the purpose of upholding the rights recognised under that Convention, where appropriate by means of international cooperation.

Amendment  11

Proposal for a decision

Recital 14

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(14) This Decision respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles reflected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular Articles 7, 8 and 24 thereof,

(14) This Decision respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles reflected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular Articles 3(1), 7, 8 and 24 thereof,

Amendment  13

Proposal for a decision

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

The programme shall be known as the “Safer Internet” programme (hereinafter “the Programme”).

The programme shall be known as the “Safer Internet”1 programme (hereinafter “the Programme”).

 

1 The title of the programme should be translated into all languages

Amendment  14

Proposal for a decision

Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

1a. For the purpose of this Decision ‘children’ shall mean persons under 18 years of age, unless the relevant national law confers on them, under certain conditions, full legal capacity under that age.

Amendment  15

Proposal for a decision

Article 1 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2. In order to attain the overall aim of the Programme, the following lines of action shall be addressed:

2. In order to attain the overall aim of the Programme, the following lines of action shall be addressed:

(a) reducing illegal content and tackling harmful conduct online;

(a) ensuring public awareness;

(b) promoting a safer online environment;

(b) fighting against illegal content and harmful conduct online;

(c) ensuring public awareness;

(c) promoting a safer online environment;

(d) establishing a knowledge base.

(d) establishing a knowledge base.

Amendment  16

Proposal for a decision

Article 3 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2.        The Commission shall draw up a work programme on the basis of this Decision.

2. The Commission shall draw up annual work programmes on the basis of this Decision.

Amendment  17

Proposal for a decision

Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

2a. In implementing the Programme, the Commission shall, in close cooperation with the Member States, ensure that it is generally consistent with and complementary to other relevant Community policies, programmes and actions.

Amendment  18

Proposal for a decision

Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point a

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(a) adoption and modification of the work programme, including determination of the priority areas for international cooperation;

(a) adoption and modification of the annual work programmes, including determination of the priority areas for international cooperation;

Amendment  19

Proposal for a decision

Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point b

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(b) any departure from the rules set out in Annex III;

deleted

Amendment  20

Proposal for a decision

Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

(ba) assessment of the projects proposed following calls for proposals for Community funding where the estimated Community contribution is equal to or more than EUR 500 000;

Amendment  21

Proposal for a decision

Article 3 – paragraph 4

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

4. The Commission shall inform the Committee referred to in Article 4 of progress in the implementation of the Programme.

4. The Commission shall inform the Committee referred to in Article 4 of progress in the implementation of the Programme. In particular, the Commission shall inform that Committee immediately about all selections decisions taken on matters falling outside of the scope of paragraph 3.

Amendment  22

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – Introduction – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

The objective of the programme is to promote safer use of the Internet and other communication technologies, particularly for children, and to fight against illegal content and harmful conduct online.

The objective of the programme is to promote safer use of the Internet and other communication technologies, to educate users, particularly children, parents , educators and carers in this regard and to fight against illegal content and harmful conduct online.

Amendment  23

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – Introduction – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

The programme has the overall aim to promote safer use of the Internet and other communication technologies (hereafter referred to as “online technologies”), especially by children, promote the development of a safe online environment, reduce the amount of illegal content disseminated online, tackle potentially harmful conduct online and ensure public awareness of online risks and precautions.

The programme has the overall aim to promote safer use of the Internet and other communication technologies (hereafter referred to as “online technologies”), especially by children, promote the development of a safe online environment, reduce the amount of illegal content disseminated online, tackle potentially harmful conduct online (including the psychological manipulation of children with a view to sexual abuse or ‘grooming’, electronic harassment and electronic files showing physical and/or psychological aggression) and ensure public awareness of online risks and precautions, as well as to develop pedagogical tools on the basis of sound practices.

Amendment  24

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 1 – title

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1. Reducing illegal content and tackling harmful conduct online

1. Fighting against illegal content and harmful conduct online

Amendment  25

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 1 – point 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1. Providing the public with contact points for reporting online illegal content and harmful conduct. Activities should ensure that these contact points are effective and visible for the public, liaise closely with other actions at national level, and cooperate at European level to deal with cross-border issues and to exchange best practice.

1. Providing the public with and promoting the existence of contact points and hotlines for reporting online illegal content and harmful conduct. Activities should ensure that these contact points are effective and visible for the public, liaise closely with other actions at national level (in particular with police units specialised in cyber crime), and cooperate at European level to deal with cross-border issues and to exchange best practice. These contact points will also provide the public with the necessary information on how to report illegal content and assess the content of on-line information services which could harm the physical, mental or moral integrity of children.

Amendment  26

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 1 – point 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

3. Stimulating application of technical solutions for dealing adequately with illegal content and harmful conduct online. Activities should encourage the development or adaptation of effective technological tools to deal adequately with illegal content and tackle harmful conduct online, for general use by stakeholders.

3. Stimulating application of technical solutions for dealing adequately with illegal content and harmful conduct online and informing end-users as to how this technology might be applied. Activities should encourage the design, development or adaptation and/or promotion of effective technological tools to deal adequately with illegal content and the fight against harmful conduct online, in particular those tools made available free of charge for easy general use by stakeholders, and should also encourage the promotion by service operators of safe, responsible use of connections in order to protect children against illegal and harmful activities. Stakeholders should be informed of the availability of this technology and its proper use. Consideration could be given inter alia to the following measures:

 

(a) adopting a quality label for service providers, so that users can easily check whether or not a given provider subscribes to a code of conduct;

 

(b) use of filters by end-users which would prevent information offending against children’s physical, mental or moral integrity from passing through on-line technologies;

 

(c) supporting and promoting measures to encourage positive content for children.

 

(d) aiming to explore the effectiveness of tools developed in cooperation with the Internet industry that enable law enforcement agencies to track down criminals on the web.

Amendment  27

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 1 – point 4

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

4. Promoting cooperation and exchange of information, experience and best practices between stakeholders at national and European level. Activities will aim to improve the coordination of stakeholders involved in countering the distribution of illegal content and harmful conduct online and encourage the participation and engagement of these stakeholders.

4. Promoting cooperation and exchange of information, experience and best practices between stakeholders at national and European level. Activities will aim to improve the coordination of stakeholders involved in countering the distribution of illegal content and harmful conduct online and encourage the participation and engagement of these stakeholders. In particular, activities will encourage the international sharing of expertise and pooling of ideas between governments, law enforcement agencies, hotlines, banking/financial/credit card institutions, child abuse counselling centres and child welfare organisations and the Internet industry.

Amendment  28

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 1 – point 5

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

5. Enhancing cooperation, exchange of information and experience in fighting online illegal content and harmful conduct at international level. Activities will aim to improve cooperation with third countries, harmonise approaches in dealing with illegal content and harmful conduct online at international level and encourage development of common approaches and methods of work.

5. Enhancing cooperation, exchange of information and experience in fighting online illegal content and harmful conduct at international level. Activities will aim to improve cooperation with third countries, harmonise approaches in dealing with illegal content and harmful conduct online at international level and encourage development of coordinating links between the Member States’ databases relating to child abuse, and also common approaches and methods of work. In particular, activities should be aimed at creating close cooperation between national authorities, police and contact points. Actions will be taken to build a common European database collecting information on child abuse and to ensure its connection with Europol.

Amendment  29

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 1 – point 5 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

5a. Engaging domain name registries where this is not the case and strengthening co-operation where it does exist. Taking account of national legislation, activities will aim to complement the existing actions by improving co-operation with domain name registries in Member States, and encouraging positive relationships with registries outside the EU to enable earlier detection of potentially illegal content and minimise the longevity of known websites offering child sexual abuse content.

Amendment  30

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 2 – point 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2. Encouraging stakeholders to develop and implement adequate systems of self-regulation. Actions will encourage the creation and implementation of self-regulatory initiatives and encourage stakeholders to take account of child safety when developing new technologies and services.

2. Encouraging stakeholders to develop and implement adequate systems of self- and co-regulation. Actions will encourage the creation and implementation of self- and co-regulatory initiatives and encourage stakeholders to take account of child safety when developing new technologies and services.

Amendment  31

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 2 – point 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

2a. Encouraging and assisting providers to develop labelling. Actions will aim at encouraging and assisting Internet service providers to develop, as a tool of self regulation, ‘child safe’ labelling for web pages.

These actions may include, inter alia, exploring the possibility of setting-up a system of common descriptive symbols or warning messages indicating the age category and/or those aspects of the content which have led to a certain age recommendation, which would help users to be more aware of potentially harmful online content.

Amendment  32

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 2 – point 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

3. Stimulating the involvement of children and young people in creating a safer online environment. Actions will aim to involve children and young people with the aim of better understanding their views and experiences concerning the use of online technologies and on how to promote a safer online environment for children.

3. Stimulating the involvement of children in creating a safer online environment. Actions will aim to involve children, ensuring equal participation of girls and boys, with the aim of better understanding their views and experiences concerning the use of online technologies and on how to promote a safer online environment for children, with the support of specialists. This involvement shall be regularly exercised within the framework of activities such as the European Forum on the Rights of the Child, the Safer Internet Forum and others.

Amendment  33

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 2 – point 4

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

4. Increasing information about adequate tools for dealing with harmful content online. Activities will aim to increase information about the performance and effectiveness of tools for dealing with potentially harmful content online and to equip users with information, instruments and applications adequately supporting them in dealing with harmful content across different platforms.

4. Increasing information about adequate tools for dealing with harmful content online. Activities will aim to increase information, particularly for parents, carers and educators, about the performance and effectiveness of tools, such as filtering systems, for dealing with potentially harmful content online and to equip all users regularly with simple educational information, instruments and applications adequately supporting them in dealing with harmful content across different platforms.

Amendment  34

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 3 – introductory part

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

The activities will be aimed at increasing the awareness of the public, in particular children, parents, carers and educators, about opportunities and risks related to the use of online technologies and means of staying safe online. The main overall actions planned to be taken are:

The activities will be aimed at increasing the awareness of the public, in particular children, parents, carers and educators, about opportunities and risks related to the use of online technologies and means of staying safe online. They will also address the opportunities and risks of services using new distribution platforms, such as audiovisual services using mobile phone networks. Where appropriate, information packs should be made available in multilingual versions. The main overall actions planned to be taken are:

Amendment  35

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 3 – point 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1. Raising public awareness and disseminating information on safer use of online technologies. The activities will promote public awareness by providing adequate information about possibilities, risks and ways to deal with them in a coordinated way across Europe. Activities will encourage cost-effective means of distributing awareness information to a large number of users.

1. Raising public awareness and disseminating information on safer use of online technologies. The activities will promote public awareness in a coordinated way across Europe, by conveying a positive message on the opportunities for a wider and more intensive use of ICT, while providing adequate information about risks and ways to deal with them. Actions will be encouraged so as to enable children to make responsible use of on-line technologies, in particular through media literacy or media education programmes. Activities will encourage cost-effective means of distributing awareness information to a large number of users, for instance, through co-operation with mass media, through online distribution of user-generated content and through the educational system. Methods of distribution and presentation of the messages will be adapted to the various target groups (different age groups of children and their parents, educators).

Amendment  36

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 3 – point 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2. Providing contact points where parents and children can receive answers to questions about how to stay safe online. Activities will be aimed at empowering users to make informed and responsible choices by providing them with advice on relevant information and precautions to be taken to remain safe online.

2. Providing contact points where parents and children can receive answers to questions about how to stay safe online, including advice on how to deal with both grooming and cyber-bullying. Activities will be aimed at empowering users to make informed and responsible choices by providing them with advice on relevant information and precautions to be taken to remain safe online.

Amendment  37

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 4 – introductory part

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

The activities will aim to establish a knowledge base for dealing adequately with existing and emerging uses of the online environment and relevant risks and consequences, with a view to designing adequate actions aimed at ensuring online safety for all users. The main overall actions planned to be taken are:

The activities will aim to establish a knowledge base for dealing adequately with existing and emerging uses of the online environment and relevant risks and consequences, with a view to designing adequate actions aimed at ensuring online safety for all users. The contents of this knowledge base should be shared with stakeholders and disseminated across Member States. The main overall actions planned to be taken are:

Justification

Knowledge bases are not useful unless the information is shared.

Amendment  38

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 4 – point 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2. Providing updated information concerning children’s use of online technologies. Actions will be taken to generate updated information concerning children’s use of online technologies and the way they and their parents and carers deal with both opportunities and risks. The actions will comprise quantitative and qualitative aspects. Actions will also aim to increase the knowledge of children and young people’s own strategies for dealing with risks in the online environment, and assess the effectiveness of these strategies.

2. Providing updated information concerning children’s use of online technologies. Actions will be taken to generate updated information concerning children’s use of online technologies and the way they and their parents, carers, teachers and educators deal with both opportunities and risks. The actions will comprise quantitative and qualitative aspects. Actions will also aim to increase the knowledge of children’s own strategies for dealing with risks in the online environment, and assess the effectiveness of these strategies.

Amendment  39

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 4 – point 2 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

2b. Analysis of statistics and trends from different Member States to allow law enforcement agencies and relevant authorities from Member States to reduce duplication of existing efforts and maximise the use of current and future resources.

Amendment  40

Proposal for a decision

Annex I - Action 4 - point 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

3. Promoting investigation on online victimisation of children. Actions will aim to investigate technical, psychological and sociological issues related to the victimisation of children in the online environment, including bullying, grooming, issues relating to online child sexual abuse material and emerging forms of conduct that can put children at risk of harm.

3. Promoting investigation on online victimisation of children. Actions, incorporating a gender-sensitive approach, will aim to investigate technical, psychological and sociological issues related to the victimisation of children in the online environment, including bullying, grooming, issues relating to online child sexual abuse material and emerging forms of conduct that can put children at risk of harm.

Amendment  41

Proposal for a decision

Annex I - Action 4 - point 5

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

5. Increasing knowledge of the effects of the use of current and emerging technologies on children and young people. Actions will aim to better understand the psychological, behavioural and sociological effects on children and young people using online technologies, ranging from the effect of exposure to harmful content and conduct to grooming and bullying and across different platforms, from computers and mobile phones to game consoles and other emerging technologies.

5. Increasing knowledge of the effects of the use of current and emerging technologies on children and young people. Actions, incorporating a gender-sensitive approach, will aim to better understand the psychological, behavioural and sociological effects on children and young people using online technologies, ranging from the effect of exposure to harmful content and conduct to grooming and bullying and across different platforms, from computers and mobile phones to game consoles and other emerging technologies.

Amendment  42

Proposal for a decision

Annex II

 

Text proposed by the Commission

 (1) 

Reducing illegal content and tackling harmful conduct online

30-35%

 (2) 

Promoting a safer online environment

5-10%

 (3) 

Ensuring public awareness

45-50%

 (4) 

Establishing a knowledge base

8-15%

 

Amendment by the Parliament

(1)     

Ensuring public awareness

48%

(2)     

Fighting against illegal content and tackling harmful conduct online

34%

(3)     

Promoting a safer online environment

10%

(4)     

Establishing a knowledge base

8%

Amendment  43

Proposal for a decision – amending act

Annexe III - points 4, 5 and 6

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(4) The selection of shared-cost actions will be based on calls for proposals published on the Commission’s website in accordance with the financial provisions in force.

deleted

(5) Applications for Community support should provide, where appropriate, a financial plan listing all the components of the funding of the projects, including the financial support requested from the Community, and any other requests for or grants of support from other sources.

 

(6) Accompanying measures will be implemented through calls for tenders in accordance with the financial provisions in force.

 

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The Commission proposal on a European programme on protecting children using the Internet and new technologies (‘Safer Internet’) forms part of European measures to promote greater safety for children on the Internet. As new technologies become more widespread and computer literacy increases, children are increasingly being exposed to the risks of illegal content and harmful behaviour such as harassment, child pornography, online grooming, bullying, dissemination of racist contents, and incitement to self-harm, anorexia or suicide.

According to Eurobarometer[1] 74% of young people between the ages of 12 and 15 use the Internet for at least three hours each day. Virtually all the children interviewed replied that they had been accidentally exposed to pornographic images. The figures in fact show an exponential increase in the number of sites with child pornography material and content that is harmful to children, with the worrying tendency towards a lowering of the age of the children involved and an increase in the levels of violence recorded.

Internet Watch Foundation has reported a 16 % increase in Internet child abuse in the last few years alone. The Interpol database shows that at least 500 000 new original child pornography images are provided online each year and 550 000 images of abuse on 20 000 children, of whom only 500 have been identified and saved since 2001. The number of websites with child pornography material increased worldwide by 1500% in the period from 1997 to 2005.

These figures clearly show that online child safety calls for a multilevel approach involving children, their families and school, together with TLC sector operators, providers, as well as institutions, self-regulation bodies and NGOs. A joint effort is required, aimed at increasing knowledge and prevention, which will encourage and facilitate practical arrangements for the reporting of such abuses and at the same time improve police investigation resources.

These ambitious objectives can be pursued by making use of the funds made available by the European Union through the financial instrument in question, the ‘Safer Internet’ programme.

The new Programme provides for EUR 55 million in funding for the period 2009-2013 to protect children using the Internet and new technologies. It will be based on four main lines of action: restricting harmful behaviour by combating illegal content and countering Internet abuse; promoting a safer online environment, inter alia through ad hoc technological instruments; promoting information, participation and prevention; and, lastly, establishing a knowledge base, encouraging cooperation and exchanges of good practice at international level.

We also wish to stress the importance of this Commission initiative in the light of the results of the previous ‘Safer Internet Plus’ programme (2004-2008).

Among the instruments that are useful in combating the spread of harmful content on the Internet, it is important to continue supporting the development of hotlines through this new programme. Hotlines play an important pre-investigative role in collecting reports and establishing an initial assessment on the illegality of the content. These contact points constitute a network channelling information towards police forces and hotlines which form part of the INHOPE network.

It is also essential to develop ad hoc supervised chat services for children. A number of experiences in this area have been successful and have been introduced by monitoring access to children’s chat services and carrying out preventive checks on the placing online of user-created content. Similarly, blocking and filtering systems to create a child friendly environment are increasingly widespread on the market. Steps must now be taken to promote the use of such systems in order to ensure that they do not become one of the many options that are provided by new technologies and that are not used.

Much still remains to be done to increase children’s awareness of the risks involved in using new technologies. They must be provided with more extensive knowledge and learn to avoid dangerous online behaviour. They should be properly prepared and given appropriate information so as to be able to use the whole range of means of recognising and protecting themselves against possible forms of abuse. Priority should also be given to making young people aware of the importance and value of their own privacy. Insufficient emphasis is placed on the problem of young people selling images of their own bodies online for financial profit.

A major literacy campaign will also need to be carried out vis-à-vis parents and schoolteachers in order to narrow the technological generation gap. Experiences, good practices and knowledge should also be shared between police forces and operators in the sector.

It is vitally important to focus on two particularly worrying phenomena, i.e. online grooming and bullying, which must be considered as priorities. Measures involving information, development of new technological instruments, exchanges of good practice and the work of providers should be coordinated as part of a common effort to promote the safety of children. According to the Eurobarometer report, problems such as the soliciting of children through psychological manipulation for sexual purposes (grooming), cyberbullying and incitement to self-harm are not reported to parents out of a feeling of shame or fear of not being allowed to use chat services or simply because children underestimate the seriousness of the problem. Such problems have thus become much more insidious and difficult to identify. Similarly, grooming, i.e. online contacts aimed at contacts in real life, are extremely dangerous as a precursory sign of child abuse.

Action must therefore be taken to step up studies and the dissemination of knowledge on the behaviour of children and their vulnerability to dangerous behaviour (‘victimisation’). We need to multiply our efforts to provide young children with the means to avoid dangerous contacts, to help them recognise dangers and to teach them to talk about such problems with their parents.

To combat online abuse, it is also essential to focus on improving the means available to police forces.

A ‘European child pornography images database’ should therefore be established, with a real-time link to hotlines reports available to the police. This instrument is extremely useful in relation to images acquired with a pier-to-pier system (p2p), as a means of checking whether the image has already appeared already on the web and whether any investigations have already been carried out on the matter, thereby avoiding unnecessary duplication of investigative efforts.

It is also important further to develop the dissemination of software to support police investigations in identifying an exploited child’s location. The CETS and Europol’s Analysis Work File have yielded significant results in this area.

Action is also needed to support systems relating to the traceability of financial movements linked to exchanges of child pornography images. The survey commissioned by Missing Children Europe, showing that the laws of 11 Member States and those of Russia make it possible to trace payments occurring on child pornography sites while fully respecting privacy and banking secrecy standards, is particularly interesting. Attention should be drawn to the effectiveness of work already carried out and what can be achieved with operators in the sector through exchanges of good practices and selfregulation. In this connection, I welcome the mobile telephony operators’ agreement of February 2007 on the protection of children. Similar steps taken by providers should be given further encouragement under the auspices of the Commission. For instance, a ‘child-friendly’ common label should be devised and distributed among providers to enable parents and children to identify ‘safe’ sites that will be carefully monitored by such providers. This would be a simple means of enabling people to use such sites without any fear of abuse.

The research carried out in preparing this document has highlighted the extremely fragmented nature of the data available to the public on child pornography and, in particular, on the other forms of illegal behaviour vis-à-vis children that have arisen as a result of new technologies. Special emphasis will therefore need to be placed, in the context of awareness-raising measures, on monitoring and the collection of data.

In conclusion, efforts must be continued and stepped up to guarantee children’s safety online, and, more generally, in the use of new technologies. One of Parliament’s priorities will be to speed up the approval of this text with a view to launching the Programme by 1 January 2009 and thus guaranteeing the continuity of funding and preparing an appropriate financial framework for the period 2009-2012. It is precisely with a view to an agreement at first reading that amendments proposed by the EU Council[2] have been included in this report. We trust that Members will be prepared to joint in the common effort to secure approval of this report as soon as possible.

  • [1]  Eurobarometer EB 60.2-CC-EB2004.1.
  • [2]  Council of the EU, 8 May 2008, No 9137/08.

OPINION of the Committee on Budgets (11.9.2008)

for the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision establishing a multi-annual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies
(COM(2008)0106 – C6‑0092/2008 – 2008/0047(COD))

Rapporteur: Cătălin-Ioan Nechifor

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

This programme ‘establishing a multi-annual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet’ is the fourth version of a multi-annual programme designed to promote safer use of the Internet and it follows on from its 1991[1], 2003[2] and 2005[3] predecessors. It is due to come into effect on 1 January 2009.

Date

Period

Budget

Number of years covered

1999

1999-2002

EUR 25 million

4

2003

2003-2004

 

EUR 13.3 million

2

2005

2005 –2006

EUR 20.05 million

2

2005

2006-2008

EUR 24.95 million

3

2008

2009-2013

EUR 55 million

5

The budget headings concerned are 09 02 02 (operating appropriations) and 09 01 04 04 (administrative appropriations).

Implementation (in EUR millions)

Budget

 

Final amount

Implementation

Percentage

 

2009

p.m. (FDB)

10.7

 

 

 

2008

14.9

0.04 (by 16.6.2008)

0.47%

 

2007

12.24

12.24

100%

 

2006

9.8

6.12

84.3%

 

2005

9.5

9.5

100%

 

Implementation of the appropriations was reasonably good in the earlier years, although implementation in 2008 seems to be greatly behind schedule (only EUR 40 000 had been committed by 26 June 2008). DG INFSOC[4] is confident that all the commitment and payment appropriations will be implemented before the end of the budget year. The commitment appropriations will be the subject of a global commitment which will be used to finance selected projects following a call for proposals which was published in the 12 March 2008 edition of the Official Journal (OJ C 67, p. 7) and the closing date for which was 28 May 2008. The proposals were assessed at the beginning of June.

As regards the budget for 2009 (the first year of the proposed new programme), the Commission has informed your rapporteur that the amount of EUR 10.75 million in the 2009 FDB will also be allocated to the funding of projects to be selected following a call for proposals to be launched in 2009 in connection with the new programme. The amount is justified on the basis of the average of the amounts spent per year in the course of the current programme (approx. EUR 10.2 million; total budget allocated to the programme – EUR 55 million – divided by the five years of implementation).

EUR 55 million will be allocated for the 2009-2013 period. According to the financial statement, the distribution over the five years of the programme will be as follows:

 

 

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

TOTAL

Technical and administrative assistance (09 01 04 04 )

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

0.3

 

1.5

PDB 2009 /Financial programming as at 25/4/08

0.25

0.25

0.3

0.3

0.3

 

 

 

Commitment appropriations

11

11

11

11

11

 

55.0

Payment appropriations

0.3

5.38

6.91

9.85

10.35

22.21

55.0

PDB 2009 /Financial programming as at 25/4/08

CA: 10.75

10.7

10.7

10.7

10.7

 

53.55

PA: 13

The administrative costs will thus have increased by EUR 50 000 by comparison with 2007‑2008.

Although such a programme is compatible with the Heading 1A ceilings, there is no specific legal basis in the treaty and your rapporteur questions the European added value of the programme, particularly in the context of the mid-term review of the multi-annual financial framework which the budgetary and legislative authority should carry out.

Comitology

The structure of the programme consists essentially of an empty shell (the decision) followed by three annexes describing the substance of the Commission’s actions. Article 1(2) states that the activities (the substance) of the programme are set out ‘in Annex I’ and that the programme shall be implemented in accordance with Annex III. No specific action is provided for in the decision itself. The European Parliament’s Mastenbroek report[5] of December 2004 concerning the most recent programme did not call for the programme structure to be changed.

In addition to this rather opaque technique of law making, Article 3(3) stipulates that the Commission is free to change the substance of Annex III (concerning working methods) in the comitology procedure.

Monitoring the financial implementation of a programme is certainly a job for the Committee on Budgets or the Committee on Budgetary Control, especially when a mid-term review of the multi-annual financial framework is approaching.

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Budgets calls on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs as the committee responsible to incorporate the following amendments into its report:

Amendment  1

Draft legislative resolution

Paragraph 1a (new)

Draft legislative resolution

Amendment

 

1a. Considers the financial-reference amount of EUR 55 million which is contained in the legislative proposal for the implementation of the programme in the period from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2013 to be compatible with the ceiling laid down in subheading 1a of the 2007-2013 multi-annual financial framework (MFF);

Amendment  2

Proposal for a decision – amending act

Article 3 - Paragraph 3 - point a

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(a) adoption and modification of the work programme, including determination of the priority areas for international cooperation;

deleted

Amendment  3

Proposal for a decision – amending act

Article 3 - Paragraph 3a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

3a. Measures designed to amend the non-essential aspects of this Decision concerning adoption and amendment of the work programme (including identification of the priority areas for international cooperation) shall be decided upon in accordance with the procedure for regulation with monitoring which is referred to in Article 4(2a).

Amendment  4

Proposal for a decision – amending act

Article 4 - Paragraph 2a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

2a. Should reference be made to this paragraph, paragraphs 1 to 4 of Article 5a and Article 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, subject to the provisions laid down in Article 8 of that Decision.

Amendment  5

Proposal for a decision – amending act

Annexe III - paragraphs 4, 5 and 6

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(4) The selection of shared-cost actions will be based on calls for proposals published on the Commission’s website in accordance with the financial provisions in force.

deleted

(5) Applications for Community support should provide, where appropriate, a financial plan listing all the components of the funding of the projects, including the financial support requested from the Community, and any other requests for or grants of support from other sources.

 

(6) Accompanying measures will be implemented through calls for tenders in accordance with the financial provisions in force.

 

Justification

This provision is superfluous. In order to avoid any inconsistency with Financial Regulation No 1605/2002, these provisions should be deleted in view of the fact that the Financial Regulation and the implementing rules thereof are already sufficiently detailed.

PROCEDURE

Title

Protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies

References

COM(2008)0106 – C6-0092/2008 – 2008/0047(COD)

Committee responsible

LIBE

Opinion by

Date announced in plenary

BUDG

10.4.2008

 

 

 

Drafts(wo)man

Date appointed

Cătălin-Ioan Nechifor

1.4.2008

 

 

Discussed in committee

15.7.2008

11.9.2008

 

 

Date adopted

11.9.2008

 

 

 

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

24

0

0

Members present for the final vote

Richard James Ashworth, Reimer Böge, Costas Botopoulos, Paulo Casaca, Brigitte Douay, Szabolcs Fazakas, Vicente Miguel Garcés Ramón, Salvador Garriga Polledo, Nathalie Griesbeck, Catherine Guy-Quint, Jutta Haug, Ville Itälä, Wiesław Stefan Kuc, Janusz Lewandowski, Vladimír Maňka, Margaritis Schinas, Nina Škottová, László Surján, Helga Trüpel, Kyösti Virrankoski, Ralf Walter

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Thijs Berman, Jana Hybášková, Peter Šťastný
  • [1]  EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION No 276/1999/EC of 25 January 1999 adopting a multi-annual Community action plan on promoting safer use of the Internet by combating illegal and harmful content on global networks.
  • [2]  EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION No 1151/2003/EC of 16 June 2003 amending Decision No 276/1999/EC adopting a multi-annual Community action plan on promoting safer use of the Internet by combating illegal and harmful content on global networks.
  • [3]  EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION No 854/2005/EC of 11 May 2005 establishing a multi-annual Community programme on promoting safer use of the Internet and new on-line technologies.
  • [4]  http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/sip/index_en.htm.
  • [5]  European Parliament and Council Decision No 854/2005/EC of 11 May 2005 establishing a multi-annual Community Programme on promoting safer use of the Internet and new on-line technologies – COD 2004/0023 ­http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/file.jsp?id=241912.

OPINION of the Committee on Culture and Education (10.9.2008)

for the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies
(COM(2008)0106 – C6‑0092/2008 – 2008/0047(COD))

Rapporteur: Christopher Heaton-Harris

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

The aim of the Commission proposal a multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies is to build on the successes of the Safer Internet Action Plan.

The European Union has been a forerunner in the protection of children online since 1996, and the successive Safer Internet programmes have been a major feature of the Commission’s activity in this field. They constitute the only pan-European initiative addressing issues relating to child protection in the online environment and comprise several actions that have proved their effectiveness.

They have achieved the following:

· A European network of hotlines – reporting points where members of the public can report illegal content

· A European awareness-raising network and ‘Safer Internet Day’ co-ordinated by the network. Each year, an increasing number of countries have taken part in this in Europe and around the world

· Information for parents through independent testing of the effectiveness of filtering software

· Support for industry self-regulatory initiatives in the area of content rating and mobile phones

According to the final evaluation of the Safer Internet Action Plan, the European Union is now seen as a “pioneer which identified at an early stage the issue of illegal and harmful content on the Internet as a serious and important political question of a global dimension”.

The draftsman supports the Commission proposal in principle, and supports the successful actions that have resulted so far, in particular in the field of ensuring public awareness. However, he is concerned about the differences of resources and organisational capability between different Member States in the field of reducing illegal content and tackling harmful content online. There are some relatively simple actions that could be taken – many of which are already succeeding in some Member States – which would improve the ability of relevant bodies in Member States to identify and remove child sexual abuse content faster and more effectively.

The draftsman is supportive of the proposal for a Europe-wide database to improve the knowledge base in this area, and urges the Commission to take every available step to ensure the implementation of this as soon as possible. In conclusion, the programme has been a success for the European Union, this proposal should ensure it continues that success, and your draftsman hopes that with further international co-operation, this good practise can be communicated to other parts of the world.

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Culture and Education calls on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following amendments in its report:

Amendment  1

Proposal for a decision

Recital 5

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(5) Reaching international agreement on legally binding rules is desirable, but will not be achieved rapidly. Even if such agreement is reached, it will not be enough in itself to ensure implementation of the rules or to ensure protection of those at risk.

(5) Reaching international agreement on legally binding rules is desirable, as rapidly as possible. If such agreement is reached, it will not be enough in itself therefore a range of measures should be taken to ensure implementation of the rules or to ensure protection of those at risk.

Amendment  2

Proposal for a decision

Recital 9

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(9) International cooperation is essential given the global nature of the problem. Illegal content may be produced in one country, hosted in a second, but accessed and downloaded all over the world. International cooperation, which has been stimulated through the Community networking structures, will need to be reinforced in order to protect children better against cross-border risks involving third countries. An exchange of best practice between European organisations and organisations in other parts of the world can be mutually advantageous.

(9) International cooperation is essential given the global nature of the problem – in 2007 the EU hosted only around 3% of commercial child sexual abuse websites. Illegal content may be produced in one country, hosted in a second, but accessed and downloaded all over the world. International cooperation, which has been stimulated through the Community networking structures, will need to be reinforced in order to protect children better against cross-border risks involving third countries. An exchange of best practice between European organisations and organisations in other parts of the world, in particular the United States of America, can be mutually advantageous.

Justification

Due in very large part to the success of the Safer Internet Programme, the EU is having ongoing success at removing websites hosting illegal content. Statistics compiled by the Internet Watch Foundation show in 2007 websites in the USA hosted around 48% of commercial, publicly available, child sexual abuse websites; this rose in the first quarter of 2008 to around 78%. A significant percentage of non-commercial content is also hosted on websites in the USA. It is true that internet usage in these countries is among the highest in the world, but it is clear more can be achieved to reduce these numbers.

Amendment  3

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 1 – point 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1. Providing the public with contact points for reporting online illegal content and harmful conduct. Activities should ensure that these contact points are effective and visible for the public, liaise closely with other actions at national level, and cooperate at European level to deal with cross-border issues and to exchange best practice.

1. Providing the public with, and promoting the existence of, contact points and hotlines for reporting online illegal content and harmful conduct. Activities should ensure that these contact points are effective and visible for the public, are systematically promoted, in particular on all search engines and via a European freephone number, liaise closely with other actions at national level, and cooperate at European level to deal with cross-border issues and to exchange best practice.

Justification

As we have learned from the 112 emergency number, there is no point simply creating a pan-European numbers or hotlines unless the public know about them. They should be promoted to raise public awareness of them.

Amendment  4

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 1 – point 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

3. Stimulating application of technical solutions for dealing adequately with illegal content and harmful conduct online. Activities should encourage the development or adaptation of effective technological tools to deal adequately with illegal content and tackle harmful conduct online, for general use by stakeholders.

3. Stimulating application of technical solutions for dealing adequately with illegal content and harmful conduct online and informing end users as to how this technology might be applied. Activities should encourage the development or adaptation and/or promotion of effective technological tools to deal adequately with illegal content and tackle harmful conduct online, made available free of charge for easy general use by stakeholders. Stakeholders should be informed of the availability of this technology and its proper use.

Justification

New technology or technical solutions are useless unless the public are informed as to their availability and the most effective way of using them.

Amendment  5

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 1 – point 5 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

5a. Engaging domain name registries where this is not the case and strengthening co-operation where it does exist. Activities will aim to complement the existing actions by improving co-operation with domain name registries in Member States, and encouraging positive relationships with registries outside the EU to enable earlier detection of potentially illegal content and minimise the longevity of known websites offering child sexual abuse content.

Justification

Co-operation with the internet and communication industries is essential in such a fast-moving area, but domain registries are particularly important, as they are the base on which websites are founded. Improved co-operation with these bodies at a Member State level would lead to a more effective ‘early-warning’ system for illegal content and would make operations more costly, transient and difficult for those running child sexual abuse websites, some of which have been ‘live’ for many years, using the same domain name.

Amendment  6

Proposal for a decision

Annexe I – section 2 – point 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

3. Stimulating the involvement of children and young people in creating a safer online environment. Actions will aim to involve children and young people with the aim of better understanding their views and experiences concerning the use of online technologies and on how to promote a safer online environment for children.

3. Stimulating the involvement of children and young people in creating a safer online environment. Actions will aim to involve children and young people with the aim of better understanding their views and experiences concerning the use of online technologies and on how to promote a safer online environment for children, with the support of specialists.

Amendment  7

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 2 – point 4

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

4. Increasing information about adequate tools for dealing with harmful content online. Activities will aim to increase information about the performance and effectiveness of tools for dealing with potentially harmful content online and to equip users with information, instruments and applications adequately supporting them in dealing with harmful content across different platforms.

4. Increasing information about adequate tools for dealing with harmful content online. Activities will aim to increase information, particularly to parents, carers and educators, about the performance and effectiveness of tools for dealing with potentially harmful content online and to equip all users regularly with simple educational information, instruments and applications adequately supporting them in dealing with harmful content across different platforms.

Justification

It’s important to reduce the knowledge gap generally between adults and children since adults control children’s access to content. It’s important however to focus specifically on those adults who directly control children’s access to content such as parents, carers or educators.

Amendment  8

Proposal for a decision

Annexe I – section 3 – point 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1. Raising public awareness and disseminating information on safer use of online technologies. The activities will promote public awareness by providing adequate information about possibilities, risks and ways to deal with them in a coordinated way across Europe. Activities will encourage cost-effective means of distributing awareness information to a large number of users.

1. Raising public awareness and disseminating information on safer use of online technologies. The activities will promote public awareness by providing, regularly and systematically, adequate information about possibilities, risks and ways to deal with them in a coordinated way across Europe. Activities will encourage cost-effective means of distributing awareness information to a large number of users, in particular young people, both through schools and associations.

Amendment  9

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 4 – introductory wording

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

The activities will aim to establish a knowledge base for dealing adequately with existing and emerging uses of the online environment and relevant risks and consequences, with a view to designing adequate actions aimed at ensuring online safety for all users. The main overall actions planned to be taken are:

The activities will aim to establish a knowledge base for dealing adequately with existing and emerging uses of the online environment and relevant risks and consequences, with a view to designing adequate actions aimed at ensuring online safety for all users. The contents of this knowledge base should be shared with stakeholders and disseminated across Member States. The main overall actions planned to be taken are:

Justification

Knowledge bases are not useful unless the information is shared.

Amendment  10

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 4 – point 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2. Providing updated information concerning children’s use of online technologies. Actions will be taken to generate updated information concerning children’s use of online technologies and the way they and their parents and carers deal with both opportunities and risks. The actions will comprise quantitative and qualitative aspects. Actions will also aim to increase the knowledge of children and young people’s own strategies for dealing with risks in the online environment, and assess the effectiveness of these strategies.

2. Providing updated information concerning children’s use of online technologies. Actions will be taken to generate updated information concerning children’s use of online technologies and the way they and their parents, carers, teachers and educators deal with both opportunities and risks. The actions will comprise quantitative and qualitative aspects. Actions will also aim to increase the knowledge of children and young people’s own strategies for dealing with risks in the online environment, and assess the effectiveness of these strategies.

Justification

With increasing use of the internet by young people, it’s important that teachers and educators are aware of all the issues. This is this particularly important because of cyber-bullying which often emanates from the school environment.

Amendment  11

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 4 – point 2 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2a. Promoting the use of existing international image databases – such as those run by Interpol – to combat child abuse. Closer cooperation by the Member States and the European Union with Interpol and its databases could make cooperation at national, European and international levels more effective.

Justification

With a view to improving cooperation in the fight against child abuse, it makes sense to use and develop existing instruments. For example, a special European database would double the amount of work involved and thus hamper efforts to combat child abuse. In addition, the data involved is highly sensitive, so that stringent data protection with a proper legal basis is essential.

Amendment  12

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 4 – point 2 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2b. Creation of a Europe-wide database of technical data such as reported child sexual abuse URLs and domains, statistics and trends from different Member States. Activities will concentrate on overseeing the creation of a Europe-wide database, to allow law enforcement agencies and relevant authorities from Member States to share information and thereby reduce duplication of existing efforts and maximise the use of current and future resources.

PROCEDURE

Title

Protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies

References

COM(2008)0106 – C6-0092/2008 – 2008/0047(COD)

Committee responsible

LIBE

Opinion by

Date announced in plenary

CULT

10.4.2008

 

 

 

Drafts(wo)man

Date appointed

Christopher Heaton-Harris

1.4.2008

 

 

Discussed in committee

14.7.2008

 

 

 

Date adopted

10.9.2008

 

 

 

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

20

1

0

Members present for the final vote

Maria Badia i Cutchet, Ivo Belet, Marie-Hélène Descamps, Věra Flasarová, Milan Gaľa, Vasco Graça Moura, Luis Herrero-Tejedor, Ruth Hieronymi, Ramona Nicole Mănescu, Manolis Mavrommatis, Ljudmila Novak, Dumitru Oprea, Pál Schmitt, Helga Trüpel, Thomas Wise, Tomáš Zatloukal

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Slavi Binev, Ignasi Guardans Cambó, Mary Honeyball, Cornelis Visser, Tadeusz Zwiefka

OPINION of the Committee on Legal Affairs (10.9.2008)

for the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies
(COM(2008)0106 – C6‑0092/2008 – 2008/0047(COD))

Rapporteur: Titus Corlăţean

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

On 27 February 2008, the Commission approved a new proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies (COM(2008)0106).

Its aim is improving and replacing the existing Safer Internet plus programme by promoting four actions: reducing illegal content and tackling harmful conduct online; promoting a safer online environment; ensuring public awareness; and establishing a knowledge base.

Overall, the Commission proposal appears to be reasonable and balanced. However, your Draftsman would suggest certain changes to make the proposal more effective.

In particular, amendments are tabled to extend the scope of the Programme to online gambling and electronic commerce involving potentially harmful items and to make the participation of at least one organ of each Member States in it compulsory. A clarification of the notion of ‘children’ is also suggested in order to take due account of the different provisions concerning legal capacity existing in all Member States.

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Legal Affairs calls on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following amendments in its report:

Amendment  1

Proposal for a decision

Recital 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(1) Internet penetration and the use of communication technologies such as mobile phones is still growing considerably in the Community and offers great opportunities, such as participation, interactivity and creativity, to all citizens alike. Risks to children and abuse of the technologies continue to exist and, because of changing technologies and societal behaviours, new risks and abuses continue to emerge. In order to encourage exploitation of the opportunities and to take advantage of the positive benefits offered by the Internet and other online technologies, measures are also needed to promote their safer use.

(1) Internet penetration and the use of communication technologies such as mobile phones is still growing considerably in the Community and offers great opportunities, such as participation, interactivity and creativity, to all citizens alike. However, risks to children and abuse of the technologies continue to exist and, because of changing technologies and societal behaviours, new risks and abuses continue to emerge. Measures need to be adopted at EU level in order to protect the physical, mental and moral integrity of children, which might be impaired by accessing inappropriate content. Moreover, in order to encourage exploitation of the opportunities and to take advantage of the positive benefits offered by the Internet and other online technologies as well as communication technologies, measures are also needed to promote their safer use.

Justification

The application of the decision on communication technologies such as mobile phones services should be explicitly mentioned, as a considerable number of children and teenagers use these services.

Amendment  2

Proposal for a decision

Recital 5

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(5) Reaching international agreement on legally binding rules is desirable, but will not be achieved rapidly. Even if such agreement is reached, it will not be enough in itself to ensure implementation of the rules or to ensure protection of those at risk.

deleted

Justification

Mentioning the opportunity of an international agreement and questioning is effectiveness at the same time is quite contradictory.

Amendment  3

Proposal for a decision

Recital 8 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(8a) The changing media landscape, resulting from new technologies and media innovation, makes it necessary to teach children, and also parents, carers and educators, to use on-line information services safely and effectively.

Amendment  4

Proposal for a decision

Recital 8 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(8b) Efforts should be made to protect children against the economic risks of concluding long-term contracts by means of modern technologies (Internet or mobile phone). Therefore, effective age verification systems and voluntary certification labels should be developed.

Justification

As children are the main target of some long-term services provided on the Internet or on mobile phones (e.g. ringtones or games for mobile phones), providers should ensure that at least prices and the duration of the service are clearly indicated.

Amendment  5

Proposal for a decision

Recital 14

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(14) This Decision respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles reflected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular Articles 7, 8 and 24 thereof,

(14) This Decision respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles reflected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular Articles 3(1), 7, 8 and 24 thereof,

Amendment  6

Proposal for a decision

Recital 14 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(14a) Nothing in this Decision and its Annexes prevents Member States from applying their own legal provisions and administrative practices regarding the protection of children using the Internet, if these may ensure better results,

Amendment  7

Proposal for a decision

Article 1 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1a. For the purpose of this Decision, ‘children’ shall mean persons under 18 years of age, unless their national law confers on them, under certain conditions, full legal capacity before that age.

Justification

The national provisions regarding full legal capacity confer, under certain conditions, a full legal capacity before the age of 18. An extension of the protection accorded to ‘children’ to all people under 18, irrespective of the fact that they enjoy full legal capacity, would be inappropriate.

Amendment  8

Proposal for a decision

Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(a) reducing illegal content and tackling harmful conduct online;

(a) fighting against illegal content and harmful conduct online;

Amendment  9

Proposal for a decision

Article 2 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1. Participation in the Programme shall be open to legal entities established in the Member States.

1. Participation in the Programme shall be compulsory for at least one organ of each Member State. Any other legal entity may participate voluntarily in the Programme.

Amendment  10

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 1 – title

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1. Reducing illegal content and tackling harmful conduct online

1. Fighting against illegal content and harmful conduct online

Amendment  11

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 1 – introductory wording

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

The activities are aimed at reducing the amount of illegal content circulated online and dealing adequately with harmful conduct online, with particular focus on online distribution of child sexual abuse material, grooming and bullying. The main overall actions planned to be taken are:

The activities are aimed at reducing the amount of illegal content circulated online and dealing effectively with harmful conduct online, with particular focus, on the one hand, on online distribution of child sexual abuse material, grooming and bullying and, on the other hand, on online gambling and electronic commerce involving potentially harmful items. The main overall actions planned to be taken are:

Amendment  12

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 1 – point 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1. Providing the public with contact points for reporting online illegal content and harmful conduct. Activities should ensure that these contact points are effective and visible for the public, liaise closely with other actions at national level, and cooperate at European level to deal with cross-border issues and to exchange best practice.

1. Providing the public with contact points for reporting online illegal content and harmful conduct. Activities should ensure that these contact points are effective and visible for the public, liaise closely with other actions at national level, and cooperate at European level to deal with cross-border issues and to exchange best practice. These contact points will also provide the public with the necessary information on how to report illegal content and assess the content of on-line information services which could harm the physical, mental or moral integrity of children.

Amendment  13

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 1 – point 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2. Tackling harmful conduct online, in particular grooming and bullying. Activities will aim to tackle online grooming, the process by which an adult befriends a child with the intention of committing sexual abuse, and bullying. Actions will deal with technical, psychological and sociological issues related to these issues and will promote cooperation and coordination between stakeholders.

2. Fighting against harmful conduct online, in particular grooming, bullying and gambling. Activities will aim to fight against online grooming, the process by which an adult befriends a child with the intention of committing sexual abuse, and bullying, as well as online gambling and electronic commerce involving potentially harmful items. Actions will deal with technical, psychological and sociological issues related to these issues and will promote cooperation and coordination between stakeholders.

Amendment  14

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 1 – point 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

3. Stimulating application of technical solutions for dealing adequately with illegal content and harmful conduct online. Activities should encourage the development or adaptation of effective technological tools to deal adequately with illegal content and tackle harmful conduct online, for general use by stakeholders.

3. Stimulating application of technical solutions for dealing adequately with illegal content and harmful conduct online. Activities should encourage the development or adaptation of effective technological tools to deal adequately with illegal content and fight against harmful conduct online, for general use by stakeholders. Consideration could be given inter alia to the following measures:

 

(a) adopting a quality label for service providers, so that users can easily check whether or not a given provider subscribes to a code of conduct;

 

(b) creating filters which would prevent information offending against children’s physical, mental or moral integrity from passing through on-line technologies;

 

(c) supporting the establishment of a generic second-level domain name reserved for monitored sites committed to respecting minors and their rights, such as .KID.eu.

Amendment  15

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 1 – point 5

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

5. Enhancing cooperation, exchange of information and experience in fighting online illegal content and harmful conduct at international level. Activities will aim to improve cooperation with third countries, harmonise approaches in dealing with illegal content and harmful conduct online at international level and encourage development of common approaches and methods of work.

5. Enhancing cooperation, exchange of information and experience in fighting online illegal content and harmful conduct at international level. Activities will aim to improve cooperation with third countries, harmonise approaches in dealing with illegal content and harmful conduct online at international level and encourage development of a coordinated approach to different national databases collecting images of child abuse as well as their connection to Europol and other common approaches and methods of work.

Amendment  16

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 2 – point 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2. Encouraging stakeholders to develop and implement adequate systems of self-regulation. Actions will encourage the creation and implementation of self-regulatory initiatives and encourage stakeholders to take account of child safety when developing new technologies and services.

2. Encouraging stakeholders to develop and implement adequate systems of self-regulation. Actions will encourage the creation and implementation of self-regulatory initiatives, aiming inter alia at rating or classifying on-line content, and encourage stakeholders to take account of child safety when developing new technologies and services.

Amendment  17

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 3 – point 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1. Raising public awareness and disseminating information on safer use of online technologies. The activities will promote public awareness by providing adequate information about possibilities, risks and ways to deal with them in a coordinated way across Europe. Activities will encourage cost-effective means of distributing awareness information to a large number of users.

1. Raising public awareness and disseminating information on safer use of online technologies. The activities will promote public awareness by providing adequate information about possibilities, risks and ways to deal with them in a coordinated way across Europe. Actions will be encouraged so as to enable children to make responsible use of on-line technologies, in particular through media literacy or media education programmes as well as, for instance, continuous training within school education, including sessions open to parents. Activities will also encourage cost-effective means of distributing awareness information to a large number of users, such as, for example, information packs on possible risks of online technologies.

Amendment  18

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 3 – point 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2. Providing contact points where parents and children can receive answers to questions about how to stay safe online. Activities will be aimed at empowering users to make informed and responsible choices by providing them with advice on relevant information and precautions to be taken to remain safe online.

2. Providing contact points, including telephone hotlines, where parents and children can receive answers to questions about how to stay safe online. Activities will be aimed at empowering users to make informed and responsible choices by providing them with advice on relevant information and precautions to be taken to remain safe online.

Amendment  19

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 3 – point 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

3. Encouraging enhancement of efficient and cost-effective awareness-raising methods and tools. Actions will be aimed at improving relevant awareness-raising methods and tools with a view to making them more efficient and cost-effective in a long-term perspective.

3. Encouraging enhancement of efficient and cost-effective awareness-raising methods and tools. Actions will be aimed at improving relevant awareness-raising methods and tools with a view to making them more efficient and cost-effective in a long-term perspective. These actions may include, inter alia, the setting-up of a system of common descriptive symbols or warning messages indicating the age category and/or those aspects of the content which have led to a certain age recommendation, which would help users to be more aware of potentially harmful online content.

Amendment  20

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 3 – point 4

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

4. Ensuring exchange of best practices and cross-border cooperation at European level. Actions will be taken to ensure effective European cross-border cooperation and effective exchange of best practices, tools, methods, experience and information.

4. Ensuring exchange of best practices and cross-border cooperation at European level. Actions will be taken to ensure effective European cross-border cooperation and effective exchange of best practices, tools, methods, experience and information. In particular, activities should be aimed at creating close cooperation between national authorities, police and contact points. Actions will be taken to build a common European database collecting images of child abuse and to ensure its connection with Europol.

Amendment  21

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 4 – point 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

3. Promoting investigation on online victimisation of children. Actions will aim to investigate technical, psychological and sociological issues related to the victimisation of children in the online environment, including bullying, grooming, issues relating to online child sexual abuse material and emerging forms of conduct that can put children at risk of harm.

3. Promoting investigation on online victimisation of children. Actions will aim to investigate technical, psychological and sociological issues related to the victimisation of children in the online environment, including bullying, grooming, issues relating to online child sexual abuse material, online gambling, electronic commerce involving harmful items and similar emerging forms of conduct that can put children at risk of harm.

Amendment  22

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – section 4 – point 5

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

5. Increasing knowledge of the effects of the use of current and emerging technologies on children and young people. Actions will aim to better understand the psychological, behavioural and sociological effects on children and young people using online technologies, ranging from the effect of exposure to harmful content and conduct to grooming and bullying and across different platforms, from computers and mobile phones to game consoles and other emerging technologies.

5. Increasing knowledge of the effects of the use of current and emerging technologies on children and young people. Actions will aim to better understand the psychological, behavioural and sociological effects on children and young people using online technologies, ranging from the effect of exposure to harmful content and conduct to grooming, bullying, online gambling and electronic commerce involving harmful items and across different platforms, from computers and mobile phones to game consoles and other emerging technologies.

PROCEDURE

Title

Protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies

References

COM(2008)0106 – C6-0092/2008 – 2008/0047(COD)

Committee responsible

LIBE

Opinion by

Date announced in plenary

JURI

10.4.2008

 

 

 

Drafts(wo)man

Date appointed

Titus Corlăţean

25.6.2008

 

 

Date adopted

9.9.2008

 

 

 

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

24

0

0

Members present for the final vote

Marek Aleksander Czarnecki, Bert Doorn, Monica Frassoni, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Othmar Karas, Piia-Noora Kauppi, Klaus-Heiner Lehne, Katalin Lévai, Antonio Masip Hidalgo, Hans-Peter Mayer, Manuel Medina Ortega, Hartmut Nassauer, Aloyzas Sakalas, Francesco Enrico Speroni, Daniel Strož, Rainer Wieland, Jaroslav Zvěřina, Tadeusz Zwiefka

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Vicente Miguel Garcés Ramón, Jean-Paul Gauzès, Georgios Papastamkos, Gabriele Stauner, Jacques Toubon, Ieke van den Burg

Substitute(s) under Rule 178(2) present for the final vote

Renate Weber

OPINION of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (10.9.2008)

for the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies
(COM(2008)0106 – C6‑0092/2008 – 2008/0047(COD))

Rapporteur: Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

The proposal for a Decision establishing a multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet is aimed at creating a safer online environment for children by promoting self-regulatory initiatives and greater awareness in society. The programme ‘Safer Internet’ for children and young people shall facilitate time management and effectiveness of family members in combating the negative effects of new technologies. The new programme will prioritise the following actions:

Ι. To reduce illegal content and tackle harmful conduct online: actions to provide the public with national contact points for reporting illegal content online and harmful conduct, focusing in particular on child sexual abuse material and grooming;

ΙΙ. To promote a safer online environment: fostering self-regulatory initiatives in this field. To stimulate the involvement of children and young people in creating a safer online environment, in particular through youth panels;

ΙΙΙ. To ensure public awareness: actions targeting children, their parents and teachers. Encourage a multiplier effect through exchange of best practices within the network of national awareness centres. Support contact points where parents and children can receive advice on how to stay safe online;

ΙV. To establish a knowledge base by bringing together researchers engaged in child safety online at European level. Establish a knowledge base on the use of new technologies by children, the effects these have on them, and related risks. Use this to improve the effectiveness of ongoing actions within the Safer Internet Programme.

Internet has direct consequences on citizen’s daily lives. Therefore, it becomes extremely important to develop analyses, frameworks and arguments that ensure such technological change of our societies which contributes to the further promotion of equality between men and women, boys and girls. There is an urgent need to grasp what impact the new technologies, including Internet, may have on women’s rights, and to cast a critical eye on their potential long-term effects. The draft opinion emphasizes the importance of a gender sensitive approach to be implemented while developing and implementing various Programmes’ actions. Girls and boys should be guaranteed the same opportunities and their different needs have to be assessed and reflected in any action taken.

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality calls on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following amendments in its report:

Amendment  1

Proposal for a decision

Recital 4

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(4.) There will be a continued need for action both in the area of content potentially harmful to children and in the area of illegal content, particularly child abuse material. The same applies to children becoming victims of harmful and illegal conduct leading to physical and psychological harm and to children being enticed to imitate such conducts causing harm to themselves and others.

(4.) There will be a continued need for action both in the area of content potentially harmful to children, particularly pornographic material, and in the area of illegal content, particularly child abuse material. The same applies to children becoming victims of harmful and illegal conduct leading to physical and psychological harm and to children being enticed to imitate such conducts causing harm to themselves and others. To this end, special attention shall be given to the peer support system.

Amendment  2

Proposal for a decision

Recital 6

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(6) Decision No 276/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 January 1999 adopting a Multiannual Community Action Plan on promoting safer use of the Internet and new online technologies by combating illegal and harmful content primarily in the area of the protection of children and minors33 (the Safer Internet Action Plan 1998-2004)34 and Decision No 854/2005/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 establishing a multiannual Community Programme on promoting safer use of the Internet and new online technologies35 (the Safer Internet plus programme 2005 to 2008) have provided Community financing which has successfully encouraged a variety of initiatives and has given European added value, as demonstrated by the programme evaluations submitted to the European Parliament, the Council and the Committee of the Regions.

(6) Decision No 276/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 January 1999 adopting a Multiannual Community Action Plan on promoting safer use of the Internet and new online technologies by combating illegal and harmful content primarily in the area of the protection of children and minors33 (the Safer Internet Action Plan 1998-2004)34 and Decision No 854/2005/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 establishing a multiannual Community Programme on promoting safer use of the Internet and new online technologies35 (the Safer Internet plus programme 2005 to 2008) have provided Community financing which has successfully encouraged a variety of initiatives and has given European added value, as demonstrated by the programme evaluations submitted to the European Parliament, the Council and the Committee of the Regions. The ‘Safer Internet plus Programme (2005-2008)’ and the new ‘Safer Internet Programme (2009-2013)’ shall facilitate family members in terms of both effectiveness and time management, in combating the negative effects of new technologies.

Amendment  3

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – Action 1- paragraph 4

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

4. Promoting cooperation and exchange of information, experience and best practices between stakeholders at national and European level. Activities will aim to improve the coordination of stakeholders involved in countering the distribution of illegal content and harmful conduct online and encourage the participation and engagement of these stakeholders.

4. Promoting cooperation and exchange of information, experience and best practices between stakeholders at national and European level. Activities will aim to improve the coordination of those in charge of countering the distribution of illegal content and harmful conduct online and encourage the participation and engagement of different sections of the population, irrespective of their social and geographical background.

Amendment  4

Proposal for a decision

Annex I - Action 2 - paragraph 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

3. Stimulating the involvement of children and young people in creating a safer online environment. Actions will aim to involve children and young people with the aim of better understanding their views and experiences concerning the use of online technologies and on how to promote a safer online environment for children.

3. Stimulating the involvement of children and young people in creating a safer online environment. Actions will aim to involve children and young people, ensuring equal participation of girls and boys, women and men, with the aim of better understanding their views and experiences concerning the use of online technologies and on how to promote a safer online environment for children.

Amendment  5

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – Action 3 – paragraph 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

3. Encouraging enhancement of efficient and cost-effective awareness-raising methods and tools. Actions will be aimed at improving relevant awareness-raising methods and tools with a view to making them more efficient and cost-effective in a long-term perspective.

3. Encouraging enhancement of efficient and cost-effective awareness-raising methods and tools. Actions to prevent gender stereotyping will be aimed at improving relevant awareness-raising methods and tools. The objective is to ensure more efficient and cost-effective action, by harnessing both the potential for cooperation between the public and private spheres, and promoting activities concerning the social responsibility of undertakings, in a long-term perspective.

Amendment  6

Proposal for a decision

Annex I - Action 4 - paragraph 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

3. Promoting investigation on online victimisation of children. Actions will aim to investigate technical, psychological and sociological issues related to the victimisation of children in the online environment, including bullying, grooming, issues relating to online child sexual abuse material and emerging forms of conduct that can put children at risk of harm.

3. Promoting investigation on online victimisation of children. Actions, incorporating a gender sensitive approach, will aim to investigate technical, psychological and sociological issues related to the victimisation of children in the online environment, including bullying, grooming, issues relating to online child sexual abuse material and emerging forms of conduct that can put children at risk of harm.

Amendment  7

Proposal for a decision

Annex I - Action 4 - paragraph 5

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

5. Increasing knowledge of the effects of the use of current and emerging technologies on children and young people. Actions will aim to better understand the psychological, behavioural and sociological effects on children and young people using online technologies, ranging from the effect of exposure to harmful content and conduct to grooming and bullying and across different platforms, from computers and mobile phones to game consoles and other emerging technologies.

5. Increasing knowledge of the effects of the use of current and emerging technologies on children and young people. Actions, incorporating a gender sensitive approach, will aim to better understand the psychological, behavioural and sociological effects on children and young people using online technologies, ranging from the effect of exposure to harmful content and conduct to grooming and bullying and across different platforms, from computers and mobile phones to game consoles and other emerging technologies.

Amendment  8

Proposal for a decision

Annex I – Action 4 – paragraph 5 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

 

5a. Promoting awareness of how effectively to balance use of the online environment, and its dangers and impact at local and regional level, as well as within small social groupings (family, school, etc.).

PROCEDURE

Title

Protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies

References

COM(2008)0106 – C6-0092/2008 – 2008/0047(COD)

Committee responsible

LIBE

Opinion by

Date announced in plenary

FEMM

10.4.2008

 

 

 

Drafts(wo)man

Date appointed

Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou

6.5.2008

 

 

Discussed in committee

15.7.2008

9.9.2008

 

 

Date adopted

9.9.2008

 

 

 

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

23

0

0

Members present for the final vote

Edit Bauer, Emine Bozkurt, Ilda Figueiredo, Věra Flasarová, Lissy Gröner, Zita Gurmai, Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Urszula Krupa, Pia Elda Locatelli, Siiri Oviir, Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou, Zita Pleštinská, Teresa Riera Madurell, Eva-Britt Svensson, Anna Záborská

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Gabriela Creţu, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Donata Gottardi, Mary Honeyball, Filiz Hakaeva Hyusmenova, Marusya Ivanova Lyubcheva, Maria Petre

PROCEDURE

Title

Protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies

References

COM(2008)0106 – C6-0092/2008 – 2008/0047(COD)

Date submitted to Parliament

27.2.2008

Committee responsible

Date announced in plenary

LIBE

10.4.2008

Committee(s) asked for opinion(s)

Date announced in plenary

BUDG

10.4.2008

ITRE

10.4.2008

CULT

10.4.2008

JURI

10.4.2008

 

FEMM

10.4.2008

 

 

 

Not delivering opinions

Date of decision

ITRE

6.5.2008

 

 

 

Rapporteur(s)

Date appointed

Roberta Angelilli

8.4.2008

 

 

Discussed in committee

29.5.2008

14.7.2008

15.9.2008

13.10.2008

Date adopted

13.10.2008

 

 

 

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

31

0

0

Members present for the final vote

Alexander Alvaro, Roberta Angelilli, Emine Bozkurt, Philip Bradbourn, Kathalijne Maria Buitenweg, Giusto Catania, Jean-Marie Cavada, Carlos Coelho, Elly de Groen-Kouwenhoven, Esther De Lange, Panayiotis Demetriou, Gérard Deprez, Bárbara Dührkop Dührkop, Claudio Fava, Armando França, Urszula Gacek, Kinga Gál, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Ewa Klamt, Magda Kósáné Kovács, Henrik Lax, Rareş-Lucian Niculescu, Martine Roure, Sebastiano Sanzarello, Csaba Sógor, Vladimir Urutchev, Renate Weber, Tatjana Ždanoka

Substitute(s) present for the final vote

Marco Cappato, Genowefa Grabowska, Bill Newton Dunn
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