Netherlands

[NL] Complaints counter for child pornography on Internet

IRIS 1996-7:1/3

Marcel Dellebeke

Institute for Information Law (IViR), University of Amsterdam

The Dutch association of Internet providers (Vereniging van Nederlandse Internetproviders, NLIP) has opened on 20 June 1996 a complaints counter for child pornography (Meldpunt Kinderporno) that is distributed on the Internet. Users that come across illegal material can notify the complaints counter. The counter will first ask the provider of the material to remove it. If the provider does not respond, the office of the Public Prosecutor will be notified.

With this initiative the Internetproviders in the Netherlands want to show their willingness to cooperate in the fight against the distribution of illegal information. The Dutch Minister of Justice, Ms Sorgdrager, has reacted with approval to this form of collaboration. On the occasion of the opening of the counter, the Minister announced that the Ministry of Justice is planning to limit the criminal liability of Internetproviders. Through a change of the Criminal Code (Articles 53 and 54) the Ministry plans to give the Internetprovider the same limited liability as publishers and printers. The provider will not be prosecuted if he/she can point out the author of the illegal material.