WRITTEN QUESTION P-3018/98

by W.G. van Velzen (PPE) to the Commission

(2 October 1998)

Subject: Tackling child pornography on the Internet

On Sunday, 13 September the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung reported that the child welfare authorities in Germany felt that nothing had come of the initiatives to tackle child pornography on the Internet: considerable numbers of people were still visiting websites offering child pornography. This is disappointing, since it may be assumed that Member State would have stepped up their efforts to combat child pornography following the sensational discovery this Summer of the paedophile network in Zandvoort. Earlier this Summer the Austrian Presidency announced that it was working on proposals directed at this problem.

1. Can the Commission provide any information on the progress made by the Austrian Presidency in drawing up proposals for tackling child pornography on the Internet?

2. Following the events this Summer, has the Commission decided to modify, or to step up, its policy on promoting the safe use of the Internet and, if so, what steps has it taken?

3. One of the keystones of the action plan on promoting the safe use of the Internet is the creation of a European network of hotlines. Is the Commission encouraging the setting up of hotlines in the Member States and, if so, what action is being taken to achieve optimal coordination of the hotlines?

4. Is the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, taking action to ensure that throughout the EU people are aware of the addresses where they can report websites offering child pornography and that people also know that they can complain to those addresses about similar websites active in other EU countries?

5. Is the Commission prepared to meet providers active in more than one EU country to discuss with them how to improve the reporting system and what other measures can be taken in this area?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission

(11 November 1998)

1. The General Affairs Council on 5 October 1998 adopted a set of conclusions on the fight against child pornography. It listed a series of actions to be taken in this field, noting in particular that the Presidency would see that the Council completes as soon as possible its work on the Community action plan(1) on promoting safe use of the Internet and protection against illegal and harmful content on the Internet, the draft joint action submitted by the Presidency concerning the fight against child pornography on the Internet, and the mid-term programme of Community action(2) on measures relating to violence against children, young people and women (Daphne programme). Moreover, the Presidency stated that it will propose to the Council to define common positions in relation to draft conventions and protocols in this and related matters being discussed in the framework of the United Nations.

Furthermore, the group of experts set up following the European conference (March 1998, London) is examining the joint action concerning action to combat trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation of children(3) with a view to determining which measures foreseen by the joint action could be extended to all states participating in the European conference.

Lastly, the Justice and home affairs Council on 24 September 1998 also discussed the issue of combating child pornography in the Internet. It noted that it envisaged to give priority to the implementation of the joint action concerning action to combat trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation of children and to extend the present mandate of Europol on trafficking in human beings also to cover child pornography.

2. The action plan supports four areas: a European network of hotlines, self-regulation by industry, filtering and rating and awareness. Member States are also committed under Council Recommendation 98/560/EC of 24 September 1998 on the development of the competitiveness of the European audiovisual and information services industry by promoting national frameworks aimed at achieving a comparable and effective level of protection of minors and human dignity(4) to provide the appropriate framework. The Commission considers that these measures, together with co-operation between law enforcement and industry, are the right reaction at Community level.

International action is also required. The group of eight most industrialised nations is including these issues in its discussions on high-tech crime. The Council of Europe is preparing a convention on computer crime, which will allow for a common approach throughout Europe to important issues of law. The Commission is closely involved in both initiatives.

3. The Commission agrees that the European network of hotlines is a keystone of the action plan. Existing and future hotlines are already holding discussions in a scheme funded by the Daphne programme. The preparatory actions which have been launched will also allow this work to continue.

4. Public awareness of the addresses to be contacted is an important element and is part of the measures already being implemented.

5. The Commission maintains active contacts with the service providers in relation to implementation of hotlines and codes of conduct.

(1) COM(98) 582.

(2) COM(98) 335.

(3) OJ L 63, 4.3.1997.

(4) OJ L 270, 7.10.1998.