WRITTEN QUESTION E-2024/97 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE) to the Commission (11 June 1997)

Subject: Use of the Internet to disseminate illegal and damaging information

The Internet has rapidly developed into an open channel for damaging information. In Finland, for instance, there has been much discussion in recent days about problems caused by the Internet and issues of responsibility, sparked off by incidents in which young people built bombs using instructions obtained from the Internet, seriously endangering themselves and their surroundings. It is a short step from bomb-making instructions to directions for making synthetic drugs, for example. Although instructions may include warnings about the dangers of experimentation, the widest possible distribution of such information is not conducive to maintaining and promoting public safety.

The advantages of open information networks are incontestable, but clear ground-rules should be laid down concerning the input of information in order to facilitate supervision with a view to protecting Internet users. What will the Commission do to develop a more effective preliminary screening system in order to prevent damaging information from being placed on the Internet and to call to account more effectively those who disseminate such information or attempt to do so?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (31 July 1997)

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission's answers to recent written questions to this topic, in particular P-572/97 by Mrs Plooij-van Gorsel ((OJ C 217, 17.7.1997. )), E-3041/96 by Mr Kaklamanis ((OJ C 91, 20.3.1997. )), P-2792/96 by Mr Hallam ((OJ C 83, 14.3.1997, p. 68. )), E-2663/96 by Mr Amadeo ((OJ C 83, 14.3.1997, p. 45. )), E-2550/96 by Mr Amadeo ((OJ C 83, 14.3.1997, p. 24. )), P-2479/96 by Mrs Plooij-van Gorsel ((OJ C 60, 26.2.1997, p. 92. )), P-2458/96 by Mrs Crepaz ((OJ C 60, 26.2.1997, p. 87. )).

The Commission is actively pursuing these issues. The Honourable Member is, in particular, referred to the communication on illegal and harmful content on the Internet ((COM(96) 487 final. )) and the green paper on the protection of minors and human dignity in new audiovisual and information services ((COM(96) 483 final. )), both adopted on 16 October 1996, the working party report on illegal and harmful content on the Internet submitted to the Council held on 28 November 1996, the Council Resolution on illegal and harmful content on the Internet adopted on 17 February 1997 ((OJ C 70, 6.3.1997. )), the interim report on initiatives in Member States with respect to combating illegal and harmful content on the Internet, submitted to the Council on 27 June 1997, the report to the Council of 30 June 1997 on the follow-up to the green paper and the communication from the Commission of 16 April 1997 to the Council, the Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - A European initiative in electronic commerce ((COM(97) 157. )).

On the basis of the various analyses referred to above the Commission is currently preparing various means of preventing the broadcasting or placing on the internet of illicit, damaging material. Examples of these are a draft Council recommendation and an action plan on information-society networks. In addition one of the follow-ups to the Commission's communication entitled 'A European initiative in electronic commerce' referred to above is currently in preparation in the form of a communication to the Parliament, Council, Economic and Social Committee and Committee of the Regions for the purpose of ensuring security and confidence in electronic communications.