The European Parliament has adopted a proposal for a new programme aiming to promote safe use of the Internet by children. The programme, whose budget for the period 2009-2013 is some 55 M€, will support actions aiming to ban illegal contents, sexual abuses, and prevent  the risk of bullying or grooming. Social networks and communications with mobile phones will also be a priority.

The proposal seeks to introduce a new "Safer Internet" programme to run from 2009 to 2013, following on from the success of the current programme (2005-2008). The aim is to anticipate discernible trends in the online environment and strengthen the protection of children in the online environment. To achieve this, not only seeks to remove illegal content, but also prevent harmful behaviors such as harassment, grooming or sexual abuse that is documented through photographs, videos or sound files and then transmitted through the net.

The Internet Watch Foundation warns that during the last year, cases of abuse against children on the Internet increased of 16%. Interpol's image database shows that every year at least 500,000 new original pornographic original images and 550,000 images of sexual abuses involving children, are put on the net. Only 500 of the 20,000 children victims of such behaviours were able to be identified since 2001.

The new program has a budget of 55 M€ for the period 2009-2013 and follows the line taken by its predecessor, Safer Internet Plus, which was adopted in 2005 with an allocation of 45 M€ and which will be completed this year.

"Safer Internet" will give priority to new services which have appeared from the Web 2.0, such as social networks, as well as communication through mobile phones. The unsolicited commercial electronic messages (spam) will not be included in the program, since they are subject to other actions.

“Safer Internet” main elements

• National contact points for reporting illegal content and harmful conduct. These measures will have to be coordinated with other actions at national level, particularly with the police specialized in Internet.
• Involvement of children and young people in initiatives to create a safer online environment.
• Greater public awareness (information campaigns, exchange of best practice).
• A knowledge base, bringing together researchers engaged in child safety online.

EP report supports the Commission proposal with a number of amendments including greater emphasis on combating new developments such as the electronic harassment and psychological manipulation of children and the showing of physical and/or psychological aggression. The House says that setting up a common "child-safe" label for webpages, as well as information packages for teachers, carers and parents.
 
Parliament is working on this legislation in co-decision with the Council of Ministers.