WRITTEN QUESTION E-3718/00 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Terrorism, violence and black humour on websites.
Date: 2000-11-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, Internet, child protection, control of communications, freedom of expression, police cooperation

C 187 E/34

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

proceedings under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. However, the information available to it in the present
case suggests that neither of these categories applies in this instance.

(1) OJ L 158, 23.6.1990.

(2001/C 187 E/034)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3718/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(30 November 2000)

Subject: Terrorism, violence and black humour on websites

The Internet is increasingly becoming a meeting place for every possible kind of evil. Alongside sites
carrying paedophile images and scenes of pornographic violence, there is a proliferation of sites showing
harrowing scenes of attacks and explosions caused by various international terrorist organisations, with
a marked preference for ideological or fundamentalist movements. Another series of sites involves
animated cartoons and extremely violent black humour, with characters shot in the head and another
character called Ricky Martin who is tortured and cut into pieces, fat chicks dancing until they explode and
sweet little puppies that have their heads kicked off.

Although this type of communication admittedly involves the exercise of freedom of expression,

1. Does the Commission not consider that this continual transmission of violence, failure to respect
human dignity and absolute contempt for the slightest degree of self-regulation, should be subject to
internationally agreed standards?

2. Does it not think that it should take advantage of the forthcoming world communications forum
organised by the United Nations to put forward proposals on the need for regulation of the Internet
and to prevent, inter alia, unfortunate situations similar to those caused by the (cid:145)European union(cid:146) site?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(31 January 2001)

The approach of the Commission to dealing with illegal and harmful content on the Internet has remained
consistent since the adoption of the Communication on illegal and harmful content on the Internet (1) and
the green paper on protection of minors and human dignity in October 1996 (2). Significant progress has
been made thanks to a concerted approach by Member States and the institutions of the Union.

The primary responsibility for dealing with illegal content is with the appropriate law enforcement and
judicial authorities. Industry can provide assistance to law enforcement in particular in removing illegal
content from circulation and in providing information and expertise in accordance with applicable legal
rules.

However, the Internet is a global instrument and does not recognise national frontiers. International co-
operation involves law enforcement collaborating in appropriate ways including the existing channels of
communications, such as Europol and Interpol. Co-operation is being reinforced as a result of work in the
group of eight most industrialized countries (G8) and the draft Council of Europe convention which the
Commission is following closely.

Harmful content means both content which is allowed but whose distribution is restricted (adults only, for
instance) and content which may offend certain users, or which responsible adults (parents and teachers)
consider potentially harmful to children in their care, although its publication is not restricted because of
the principle of freedom of expression.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/35

Action at an international level needs to take account of divergent approaches in different countries to
what is harmful and how far free speech can be restricted. It is not likely that agreement could be reached
on a single set of rules for Internet content.

The best approach to deal with harmful content is a combination of industry self-regulation within a legal
framework, encouragement of technical tools to protect children and services offering suitable content for
children, and education and awareness-raising.

The action plan on promoting safer use of the Internet (3) supports four areas: a European network of
hotlines (to take reports about
filtering and rating and
education and awareness-raising. 20 projects are currently under way.

illegal content), self-regulation by industry,

Member States are also committed under the Recommendation on protection of minors and human
dignity (4) to provide the appropriate framework for self-regulation.

(1) COM(96) 487 final.

http://europa.eu.int/ISPO/legal/en/internet/communic.html.

(2) COM(96) 483 final.

http://europa.eu.int/en/record/green/gp9610/protec.htm.

(3) Decision 276/1999/EC of

the Council of 25 January 1999 adopting a multiannual
Community action plan on promoting safer use of the Internet by combating illegal and harmful content on global
networks (OJ L 33, 6.2.1999).
http://europa.eu.int/ISPO/iap/decision/en.html.

the Parliament and of

(4) 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 (OJ L 270, 7.10.1998).
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg10/avpolicy/new_srv/recom-intro_en.html.

(2001/C 187 E/035)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3727/00

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(30 November 2000)

Subject: The lack of European Business and Innovation Centres in the South West of England

Could the Commission please explain why European Business and Innovation Centres currently exist in
relatively affluent areas of the UK such as Birmingham and Cambridge, when there is no Centre at all in
the South-West of England, a region that contains areas such as Cornwall which are among some of the
poorest areas in the EU?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2001)

European business and innovation centres (BICs) are private companies or not-for-profit associations set up
by local or regional public-private partnerships. They are founded on the Community concept of business
support services under a Community brand name but are legally and financially independent.

The decision to set up a BIC does not depend on the Commission but on the local partnerships of public
and private bodies having an interest and responsibility for business development in the local and regional
community. Such was the case, for example, in Cambridge.

In areas assisted by European regional policy, such as Birmingham, the launching of new BICs may in
addition be supported financially by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for a strictly limited
period of time. Such a project should be presented to the competent bodies at regional level.