Better Internet for Children Policy of the European Commission Michael Busch European Commission Unit Inclusion, Skills and Youth DG CONNECT

Safer Internet program What has been achieved?

The Safer Internet program EU networks Hotlines and awareness-raising 2 Europe-wide networks: Network of Hotlines to fight illegal content in 24 European countries (+ Asia, Australia, America) Awareness Network in 25 European countries and Helplines to inform and empower children and parents

4 Safer Internet program EU networks INHOPE Members – a growing global network Australia ACMA 1999 Austria Stopline 1999 Belgium Child Focus 2001 Bulgaria ARC Fund 2006 Canada cybertip.ca 2005 Chinese Taipei ECPAT Taiwan 2005 Cyprus CNTI 2008 Czech RepublicOur Child Foundation 2007 Denmark Red Barnet 2002 Finland STC Finland 2002 France AFA 1999 Germany ECO 1999 GermanyFSM 1999 Germany jugendschutz.net 1999 Greece SafeNet 2004 Hungary MATISZ 2005 Iceland Barnaheill 2001 Ireland ISPAI 1999 Italy HOT Italy STC Italy 2003 Japan Internet Association Japan 2007 Latvia Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Electronic Government Affairs 2008 Lithuania Communications Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Lithuania 2008 Luxembourg LISA Stopline 2008 Netherlands Meldpunt 1999 Poland NASK 2006 Portugal FCCN 2007 RussiaFriendly RuNET Foundation 2009 RussiaNational Internet-Safety Node in Russia 2009 SloveniaSpletno Oko 2007 South Africa Film Publication Board 2009 South Korea KISCOM 2003 Spain Protegeles 2002 United Kingdom Internet Watch Foundation 1999 United States of Cybertipline 1999 America

Safer Internet program Action areas Ensuring public awareness of online risks and precautions Education Talk to stakeholders Research on trends, risks, behaviours Support police investigators in the fight against child sexual abuse images on the internet Industry self-regulation

Safer Internet program - Awareness Safer Internet Day – a success story 2005: organisations from 30 countries 2008: organisations from 56 countries 2012: organisations from 99 countries

Talk to stakeholders – Annual Safer Internet Forum The SI Forum: annual conferences bringing EU and international stakeholders together for discussing current developments Example - SI Forum 2009: Promoting Internet Safety in Schools. Forum was preceded by a European Teachers’ Panel. Next edition: October in Brussels. You are invited!

Research EU studies have set benchmarks in the international research community. Research examples: EU KidsOnline I and II – what do children do on the internet: trends, behaviours & risks EU NET ADB: Research on Internet addictive behaviour risk among minors in Europe POG: Understanding the process of online grooming - the behaviours of men who target young people online

Support police investigators with technical tools Technological tools to support police investigations: Example: I-Dash project (Safer Internet program ) Tool facilitates analysis of evidence material on seized computers (videos) Tool has created a fingerprint technology allowing matching videos across different formats NL police is establishing a national CAM database using this technologies

10 = Pilot and pre EC Project Countries Connected = EC Project Countries Accredited & Connected = EC Project Countries Awaiting Accreditation & Connection Safer Internet program INTERPOL ICEDB – Example for Technical Projects

Legislative Framework Protect children better in the legal systems 2011: New EU Directive on combating the sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children and child pornography Objectives: Better harmonization of criminal law rules in the Member States - More detailed provisions on levels of penalties will ensure greater consistency with the severity of the offence and also among Member State laws Sanction new behaviours, e.g. grooming Combat "child sex tourism" Reinforce the protection of child victims

Industry self-regulation Mobile phones European framework for safer mobile use by younger teenagers and children Signed by 16 leading mobile providers and content providers on 6 February 2007, initiated by the Commission.  96% of all EU mobile customers covered

The Safer Internet program - Self-regulation The EU Safer Social Networking Principles The Safer Social Networking Principles for the EU = a self- regulatory agreement to ensure the online safety on minors using social networking services, signed by 21 companies (e.g. Facebook, MySpace) 7 Principles covering e.g.: Age-appropriate services Mechanisms for reporting inappropriate conduct or content Safe approach to personal information and privacy

Achievements? Yes,…

…but not enough.

Period 2012 to 2014: A turning point Developing a strategy which reaches until 2020

Why a strategy now? Key factors Children going online ever younger New technologies - Multiplicity of connected devices (smart phones, tablets, games consoles, PCs, TVs etc) Children are a market for these devices – but weak commitment of industries to protect them Digital single market – opportunity to provide new services and content for children, but poor good content offer in most EU languages Growing political interest – but unsufficient political support Emerging (and maybe disparate) initiatives, but lack of joined-up approach that recognises children as group with specific needs

Our goals Strengthen Member States' Safer Internet policies Strengthen opportunities for business; making business responsible Overcome fragmentation of market arising from different (co)regulatory approaches eg parental controls, content classification, illegal content Improve conditions and market for good digital content for children – leveraging production of content, creating user-confidence and trust

Our goals Strengthen opportunities for children Support digital literacy and competence – 21st century skills Encourage creativity – make the Internet a place to learn and play A new EU program 2014 to 2020

Developing the strategy Acknowledges that children are a group of internet users with specific needs Combines and coordinates a series of instruments (strong emphasis on self-regulation, regulation not ruled out, financial support) for making a better internet for children Addresses all stakeholders Commission Member States – Benchmarking exercise etc. Industry - "CEO Coalition" NGOs – Funding mechanism

Elements of the strategy Analysis and Benchmarking of national policies Objectives: Analysis of all relevant national & regional policies Develop indicators to benchmark comparable data; develop scoreboard Carry out first-ever benchmarking exercise of national Safer Internet policies Regular benchmarks in the future: trend-analyses of policies

Further elements of the strategy 1- Communication of the Commission "European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children" (COM(2012) 196, ) 2 - Taking it forward – Stakeholders CEO Coalition 3- Funding Connecting Europe Facility (2014 to 2020)

Communication "European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children" Actions around 4 pillars 1.High quality content online for children and young people 2.Stepping up awareness and empowerment 3.Creating a safe environment for children online 4.Fighting against child sexual abuse The Communication defines roles for the Commission, the Member States, the industries and the NGOs The 4 pillars outline the future structure of the EU Safer Internet policies

Communication "European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children" How could an eco-environment within the internet be created which allows a better place for children? The elements are:  More good content for children – combined with white-list approach  Better protection of privacy – combined with a reporting tool for children  Better parental control tools with age-appropriate settings combined with white/blacklists and combined with  Age rating and content classification

Pillar 1 - High quality content online for children and young people Stimulate the production of creative and educational content for children Promote positive online experiences for young children

Pillar 2 – Stepping up awareness and empowerment Promote digital and media literacy and teaching online safety in schools - Strong role of Member States Scale up awareness activities and youth participation - From 2014 on EU-wide interoperable services for supporting Safer Internet Centres (new funding program) Offer simple and robust reporting tools for users - CEO Coalition

Chief Executive Officers' Coalition to make the internet a better place for kids Initiative of Vice-President Neelie Kroes 31 signatories – European and global companies active in EU Joining up the value chain: broadcasters and media publishers, device manufacturers, software suppliers, SNS, Telecommunications providers and ISPs Apple, BSkyB, BT, Dailymotion, Deutsche Telekom, Facebook, France Telecom-Orange, Google, Hyves, KPN, Liberty Global, LG Electronics, Mediaset, Microsoft, Netlog, Nintendo, Nokia, Opera Software, Research in Motion, RTL Group, Samsung, Sulake, Telefonica, TeliaSonera, Telenor Group, Tuenti, Vivendi, Vodafone

CEO Coalition Stock-taking mid-term review in July 2012; definition of actions and commitments on industry side expected for Dec 2012 Industry-led, but commitment to participative approach with 3rd parties and to independent review and monitoring

Pillar 2 – Stepping up awareness and empowerment Communication "European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children"  Offer simple and robust reporting tools  Task of CEO Coalition Objective: simple reporting mechanism for children, available EU-wide across online services and devices

Pillar 3 – Creating a safe (protected) environment for children online Communication "European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children" Provide age-appropriate privacy settings Provide a wider availability and use of parental controls Provide a wider use of age rating and content classification ( And others ) These subjects are being discussed in the CEO Coalition.

Pillar 4 – Fighting against child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation Communication "European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children" Objectives: A faster and systematic identification of child sexual abuse material disseminated online, notification and takedown of this material Reinforcing international cooperation in the field Subject of CEO Coalition. 3 innovative pilot projects are planned to be carried out in 3 Member States aiming at detecting and removing child sexual abuse material faster.

Elements of the EU strategy beyond 2014 The Connecting Europe Facility Vision for 2020 Integrated, interoperable services at European level to: - Share awareness material, knowledge and good practices - Encourage youth participation - Provide quality content for children - Deploy tools to protect children - Report and investigate tools for child abuse content online

Thank you for your kind attention