European Union: Action Plan on Safer Use of the Internet Adopted

IRIS 1999-1:1/1

Susanne Nikoltchev

European Audiovisual Observatory

On 21 December 1998, the Council of the EU adopted a multiannual Community action plan to promote safer use of the Internet by combating illegal and harmful content on global networks that the European Parliament had already approved on 17. November 1998. The action plan is intended to create an environment in Europe that is conducive to the development of the Internet industry by promoting safer use of the Internet, thereby supplementing other measures funded under the Community budget concerning the impact of the new technologies on the lives of citizens (Article 2).

The action plan provides, inter alia, for the development at European level of guidelines for the drafting and implementation of codes of conduct designed to promote self-regulation (Annex I, 1.2 §3). This is to be done in close conjunction with corresponding efforts towards self-regulation at national level, such as those that exist in the framework of the protection of minors. In addition, the action plan shall promote a system of recognizable quality labels for Internet service-providers to assist users in identifying providers that adhere to codes of conduct. The financial framework for the implementation of the four-year action plan (1 January 1999 to 31 December 2002) is set at ECU 25 million (now Euro).


References

  • Press Release concerning the Adoption of the Action Plan on Promoting Safer Use of the Internet by the Council of the European Union on 21 December 1998.


This article has been published in IRIS Legal Observations of the European Audiovisual Observatory.