News
They way children use the Internet and mobile technologies has changed dramatically in the past years. At the same time, the internet can open a wide range of opportunities for youngsters when used safely and responsibly. In order to ensure that children, parents and teachers have access to the right tools and information for a safe use of the internet and new technologies, the Commission has always been a supporter of industry self-regulation which enables industry to create a system by which they can deal rapidly with any challenges that may araise.
Several self-regulation initiatives have been taken by the industry at European level with the support of the European Commission.
Coalition to make the Internet a better place for kids
The mid-term review of the work of the Coalition to make the Internet a better place for kids took place in July 2012. Overall, progress has been registered in all of the 5 action areas but more needs to be done in order to achieve the commitments made in the Statement of Purpose of the Coalition, including its Work Plan, especially when it comes to content classification and effective takedown of child abuse material.
You can read the report from the mid-term review meeting as well as the progress reports drafted by industry leaders for each one of the 5 actions:
Action 1 Simple and robust reporting tools for users progress report and annex
Action 2 Age-appropriate privacy settings progress report and annexes
Action 3 Wider use of content classification progress report and annexes
Action 4 Wider availability and use of parental controls progress report and annex
Action 5 Effective takedown of child sexual abuse material progress report
The Coalition, launched on 01 December 2011, is a cooperative voluntary intervention designed to respond to emerging challenges arising from the diverse ways in which young Europeans go online. Companies signatories to the Coalition committed to take positive action throughout 2012 in 5 areas: simple tools for users to report harmful content and contact, age-appropriate privacy settings, wider use of content classification, wider availability and use of parental controls, effective take down of child abuse material.
Signatory companies: 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, Skyrock, Stardoll, Sulake, Telefonica, TeliaSonera, Telecom Italia, Telenor Group, Tuenti, Vivendi and Vodafone.
Read the European Commission press release
