Tougher laws needed for a safer internet, says EU body

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), which is a non-political body that represents the various economic and social components of European life, was discussing the Commission's ideas for a "multiannual Community programme on promoting safer use of the internet and new on-line technologies."

Known as Safer Internet Plus, the Commission put forward the proposals in March, looking to make the internet safer for children by tackling illegal, unwanted and harmful content – including spam – and to promote awareness.

The programme, which will cost €50 million and will last four years, has still to be approved by Member States. It builds on work carried out by the EU since 1996, but will focus more on internet end users – parents, teachers and children – than has been the case to date.

The four main aspects of the scheme are:

Fighting illegal content – funding of hotlines and the network co-ordination behind them, in order that members of the public can report illegal content, which will then be passed on to an appropriate body for action.

Tackling unwanted and harmful content – funding for technological solutions to allow end users to limit the amount of this type of content that they receive. Also funding for developing filtering technology, and promoting the exchange of information and best practice on anti-spam enforcement.

Promoting a safer environment – the provision of a platform for national bodies to exchange experiences in regulating the internet – The Safer Internet Forum.

Raising awareness – encouraging the provision of information and education on safer internet use, particularly as regards personalised, interactive and mobile applications.

But while the EESC broadly approves the programme, its draft Opinion on the proposals calls for additional legislative measures to ensure the safer use of the internet.

"There should be a general obligation incumbent on operators, i.e. internet providers, to protect children. Ordering of child pornography and other criminal content using credit cards should be prevented", states the draft Opinion.

"Systems should also be set up to identify and provide information on harmful content and to remove racist content," it adds.

"European consumers must be able to use the internet with confidence", said the two Rapporteurs to the Committee, Daniel Retureau of France and the UK's Ann Davison, yesterday. "It is therefore essential that the European Union takes urgent action to safeguard what is a precious tool for the European citizen."