WRITTEN QUESTION E-1509/98

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission

(13 May 1998)

Subject: The information society and social and economic cohesion

In the transition to the information society the difficulties which have to be resolved are not just technical ones; there are also political issues such as the legal determination of the use and exploitation of the information available.

Could the Commission say what measures it has adopted (or is intending to adopt) with regard to controls on the use and exploitation of information within the information society, with particular reference to the protection of minors?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(25 June 1998)

As far as illegal and harmful content and protection of minors on the Internet is concerned, the Honourable Member is referred to the Commission's answers on recent questions on this topic, in particular: E-4225/97 by Mrs Muscardini(1), P-0572/97 by Mrs Plooij-van Gorsel(2), E-2582/97 by Mrs Maij-Weggen(3), E-2024/97 by Mrs Matikainen-Kallström(4), E-3041/96 by Mr Kaklamanis(5), P-2792/96 by Mr Hallam(6), E-2663/96 by Mr Amadeo(7), E-2550/96 by Mr Amadeo(8), P-2479/96 by Mrs Plooij-van Gorsel(9) and P-2458/96 by Mrs Crepaz(10).

The Commission is aware of the problems raised by the Honourable Member, and shares his concern. The Commission has been working actively on these issues for over two years and has recently adopted a proposal for an action plan on promoting safe use of the Internet(11) and a proposal for a Council recommendation for the protection of minors and human dignity in audiovisual and information services(12). These are currently being examined by the Parliament and the Council.

The action plan will provide a basis for Community co-funding of a European network of hotlines for reporting illegal content such as child pornography, for European filtering and rating systems and for actions to promote awareness. It will also provide support for action under the Council Recommendation for European co-ordination of actions at national level in the field of self-regulation. International co-operation will also be reinforced under these two measures.

The Commission has further been actively engaged in the discussions of the Council under the third pillar, and in discussions of the Eight most industrialised nations (including the United States, Canada, Japan and Russia) to develop legal and technical mechanisms that allow for timely international law enforcement response to computer-related crimes. The Commission is involved in the implementation of the action plan to combat organised crime endorsed by the European Council in Amsterdam and which includes a recommendation to combat the criminal use of new technologies.

These actions will contribute substantially to discouraging the circulation of child pornography on the Internet.

(1) OJ C 223, 17.7.1998, p. 74.

(2) OJ C 217, 17.7.1997.

(3) OJ C 102, 3.4.1998.

(4) OJ C 60, 25.2.1998.

(5) OJ C 91, 20.3.1997.

(6) OJ C 83, 14.3.1997.

(7) OJ C 83, 14.3.1997.

(8) OJ C 83, 14.3.1997.

(9) OJ C 60, 26.2.1997.

(10) OJ C 60, 26.2.1997.

(11) COM(97) 582 final.

(12) COM(97) 570 final.