WRITTEN QUESTION E-1515/02 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Investigations into paedophile websites.
Date: 2002-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Internet, Italy, action programme, child pornography, child protection, computer crime, control of communications, judicial inquiry, paedophilia, regulation of telecommunications

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/131

A further element of the bilateral Arrangement, is that multilateral co-operation on swordfish in the South-
East Pacific should be advanced. Recently, the Community and Chile jointly launched an International
Consultation process with the view of establishing multilateral co-operation in the South-East Pacific
regarding the conservation and management of the swordfish stocks in that region. The Community
believes that any future Arrangement established on this basis should cover the complete range of the
stocks, both inside and outside the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of the coastal states concerned. Any
conservation measures adopted in this framework would be decided on a multilateral basis in accordance
with the Law of the Sea.

(2002/C 309 E/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1515/02

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(29 May 2002)

Subject: Investigations into paedophile websites

Reports have recently appeared in the Italian weekly press concerning investigations now being carried out
by the Italian post office police into paedophile and child pornography websites. In addition to these
police investigations, an information campaign has been launched in schools to explain the dangers of the
Internet to children, parents and teachers. A year ago, an investigation by the post office police led to the
closure of a site whose owners were charged with promoting prostitution. Numerous other questions have
been submitted on similar subjects.

Does the Commission not consider that this experience sets a precedent for action at Community level to
close down child pornography websites?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(28 June 2002)

Primary responsibility for dealing with illegal content (including child pornography) is with the appropriate
law enforcement and judicial authorities of the Member States, which co-operate internationally in the
fight against child pornography on the Internet through the existing channels of communications, such as
Europol and Interpol.

The Union has been a forerunner in the fight against illegal and harmful content since 1996, with an
approach agreed unanimously by the Parliament and the Council. The Safer Internet Action Plan adopted
by the Council and the Parliament on 25 January 1999 (1) is a major element in the Commission’s activity
in the field, providing funding for a European network of hotlines, allowing users to report illegal content
including child pornography. The Commission has proposed on 22 March 2002 (2) to extend the current
Action Plan for a second phase of two years, as well as to adapt its scope and implementation to take
account of lessons learned and new technologies, and to ensure co-ordination with parallel work in the
field of network and information security.

Other elements of the Union strategy to combat child pornography include legal instruments and practical
measures against computer crime and child pornography. These include the Commission proposal for a
Council Framework Decision (3) on approximation of laws and sanctions in the field of sexual exploitation
of children, with particular
reference to child pornography on the Internet, and the Council
Recommendation of 24 September 1998 (4) on Protection of minors and human dignity and the Council
Decision of 29 May 2000 to combat child pornography on the Internet (5).

(1) OJ L 33, 6.2.1999.
(2) COM(2002) 152 final.
(3) COM(2000) 854 final.
(4) OJ L 270, 7.10.1998.
(5) OJ L 138, 9.6.2000.