Opinion of the European Data Protection Supervisor on the Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies
Date: 2009-01-07
Institutions: European Data Protection Supervisor
Subjects: EU programme, European Data Protection Supervisor, Internet, child protection, information technology, public awareness campaign, telecommunications

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EUROPEAN DATA PROTECTION SUPERVISOR

Opinion of the European Data Protection Supervisor on the Proposal for a Decision of the
European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual Community programme on
protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies

(2009/C 2/02)

THE EUROPEAN DATA PROTECTION SUPERVISOR,

The proposal in its context

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com-
munity, and in particular its Article 286,

Having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the
European Union, and in particular its Article 8,

Having regard to Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of
individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and
on the free movement of such data (1),

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the
protection of
individuals with regard to the processing of
personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on
the free movement of such data (2), and in particular
its
Article 41,

Having regard to the request for an opinion in accordance with
Article 28(2) of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 received on
4 March 2008 from the European Commission,

HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING OPINION:

I. INTRODUCTION

Consultation of the EDPS

communication

1. The Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament
and of the Council establishing a multiannual Community
programme on protecting children using the Internet and
‘the
other
proposal’) was sent by the Commission to the EDPS for
consultation on 4 March 2008,
in accordance with
Article 28(2) of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001. This consul-
tation should be explicitly mentioned in the preamble of
the decision.

technologies

(hereinafter

(1) OJ L 281, 23.11.1995, p. 31.
(2) OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.

2. The

new multiannual

programme’)
Internet
programmes (2005-2008).

(1999-2004)

programme

‘the
is presented in the continuity of the Safer
Plus

(hereinafter

Internet

Safer

and

the

3. Four orientations are defined:

— reducing illegal content and tackling harmful conduct

online,

— promoting a safer online environment,

— ensuring public awareness,

— establishing a knowledge database.

4. The programme is presented as consistent and complemen-
tary to relevant Community policies, programmes and
actions. Considering the number of existing regulatory
measures in the field of the protection of children in the
context of new technologies, this programme concentrates
on action rather than regulation. Focus is put on the effi-
ciency and effectiveness of initiatives to be taken, and adap-
tation to the evolution of new technologies. In this perspec-
tive,
information and
best practices.

it foresees enhanced exchanges of

5. As a framework instrument, the programme does not go
into the details of the actions to be taken, but allows for
calls for proposals and calls for tenders in line with the four
orientations defined.

Focus of the opinion

6. The general orientations of

the programme address the
protection of children using the Internet and other commu-
nication technologies without putting emphasis on the
privacy aspects of the issue (3). While being totally suppor-
tive of the objective of the proposal, the EDPS will in this
opinion highlight these privacy aspects.

(3) Some references to privacy can be found in the Impact Assessment
(3.2. Specific risks: disclosure of personal
information; 3.3. Target
groups; 5.2. Analysis of the impact of the policy options) but they are
not significantly developed.

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7. The EDPS considers as essential that the initiatives planned
be consistent with the existing legal framework as cited in
the proposal (1), and in particular Directive 2000/31/EC on
e-commerce, Directive 2002/58/EC on e-privacy, and Direc-
tive 95/46/EC on data protection (2).

8. The protection of personal data should be taken into
account with regard to different aspects and different actors
involved in the programme: the protection of personal data
of children is of course the main issue, but not the only
one: personal data related to persons and contents under
scrutiny for the purpose of protecting children should also
be taken into consideration.

9. These issues will be developed as follows in this opinion:

— Chapter II will develop the link between data protection
and the safety of children, highlighting the fact that the
protection of children's data is an indispensable step
towards more safety and prevention of abuse,

— in Chapter III,

the opinion will stress the fact

that
processing of personal data is also inherent
to the
reporting, filtering or blocking of suspicious contents or
persons on the Internet:

— in a first point, the question of the reporting of
suspected persons or facts will be analysed in a data
protection perspective,

— the second point will focus on the role of technical

tools,

— the responsibility of the industry,

in relation with
their control on users' data and on content data will
be the subject of the last point.

II. PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA AND SAFETY OF

CHILDREN

10. The EDPS fully supports the objective of the programme
and the orientations defined in order
to enhance the
protection of children online. In particular, reducing illegal
or harmful content and raising awareness of children and
other actors involved are decisive measures which should
be further developed.

(1) Explanatory Memorandum, 2.1. The legislative context; Summary of

the Impact Assessment, 1.2. State of play: legislation.

(2) — Directive 2000/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 8 June 2000 on certain legal aspects of information
society services, in particular electronic commerce, in the Internal
Market
(OJ L 178,
17.7.2000, p. 1),

(‘Directive on electronic

commerce’)

— Directive 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 12 July 2002 concerning the processing of personal
data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communica-
tions sector (Directive on privacy and electronic communica-
tions) (OJ L 201, 31.7.2002, p. 37),

— Directive 95/46/EC of

the
Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals
with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free
movement of such data (OJ L 281, 23.11.1995, p. 31).

the European Parliament and of

in the recent Declaration of

11. The EDPS wishes to recall that an appropriate protection of
the personal information of the child is an essential preli-
minary step to ensure safety while being online. This inter-
connection between privacy and security of children is
explicit
the Committee of
Ministers ‘on protecting the dignity, security and privacy of
children using the Internet’ (3). The declaration recalls the
right of children to dignity, special protection and care as is
‘to protection against all
necessary for their well being,
forms of discrimination or arbitrary or unlawful interfer-
ence with their privacy and to unlawful attacks on their
honour and reputation’.

12. As examples of risks associated with the protection of the
privacy of children, the declaration cites the traceability of
children's activities that may expose them to criminal activ-
ities, such as solicitation for sexual purposes or other illegal
activities. Profiling and retention of personal data regarding
children's activities are also presented as leading to a poten-
tial risk of misuse, e.g. for commercial purposes, or for
searches by educational establishments or prospective
employers. The declaration therefore calls for removal or
deletion in a reasonably short period of time of content
and traces left by children online, and for the development
and promotion of information to children, especially on the
competent use of tools providing access to information, the
development of critical analysis of content and the appro-
priation of adequate communication skills.

13. The EDPS supports

these

findings.

In particular, he
considers as essential to raise the awareness of the child as
to the risks linked with a spontaneous communication of
personal details
real name, age or place of
residence.

such as

14. Point 3 of the measures (4) proposed by the multiannual
programme is specifically dedicated to ‘Ensuring public
awareness’, through actions directed to children, parents,
carers and educators, as to opportunities and risks related
to the use of online technologies and ‘means of staying safe
online’. Among the means indicated in the proposal, the
dissemination of appropriate information and the provision
of contact points where parents and children can receive
answers to questions about how to stay safe online, are two
useful tools that should integrate explicitly this dimension
of the protection of the child's personal data.

15. The EDPS wishes to stress that data protection authorities
are relevant interlocutors in this context. They should be
mentioned as such in the proposal, especially where it fore-
sees the promotion of cooperation and sharing of informa-
tion,
and
and good practice
experience
European level (5).

at national

(3) Declaration adopted by the Council of Ministers on 20 February
2008 at the 1018th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies, available at:
wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?Ref=Decl(20.02.2008)&Ver=0001

(4) Annex 1, Actions, point 3.
(5) Annex 1, Actions, point 1.

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16. Several

like

just

the DPA of

together with the Ministry of Education,

initiatives can be mentioned as an illustration of
recent actions taken in this perspective in Member States or
Members of the EEA. The Swedish DPA is conducting a
yearly survey on young peoples' attitudes towards internet
and surveillance,
the United
Kingdom (1) which conducted a
survey directed to
2 000 children between 14 and 21 years old. In January
2007,
the
launched an education campaign
Norwegian DPA has
directed at schools (2).
In Portugal, a protocol has been
signed between the DPA and the Ministry of Education, to
promote a data protection culture on the Internet and espe-
cially on social networks (3).
Following this project,
Portuguese social networks have integrated an interface and
a mascot dedicated to children between 10 and 15 years
old.

17. These examples illustrate the active and decisive role played
by data protection actors when it comes to the protection
of children online, and the need to include them explicitly
as interlocutors in the multiannual programme.

III. PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA AND RIGHTS OF

OTHER STAKEHOLDERS

I. Reporting and exchange of information

the provision of contact points

18. The first point of the proposal (‘Reducing illegal content
and tackling harmful conduct online’ (4)) includes as one of
for
its main actions
reporting online illegal content and harmful conduct. It is
not questionable that to be fought efficiently, illegal content
or harmful conduct must be brought to the attention of the
competent authorities. Contact points have actually already
been established in relation with the protection of children
but also, e.g. for the fight against spam (5).

19. The EDPS notes nevertheless that the notion of harmful
content remains unclear: no indication is given on who is
responsible for defining what harmful content
is, and
according to what criteria. This is all the more worrying
considering the implications of a possible reporting of such
content.

20. In addition, as already mentioned above, in the framework
of a programme like the present one not only personal data
of children are at stake, but also personal data of all
persons who are connected in some way with the informa-
tion circulating on the network. It can be, for instance, the
person suspected of misbehaviour and reported as suspect,
but also the person reporting a suspicious conduct or
content, or the victim of the abuse. While this information

is necessary to an efficient reporting system, the EDPS
considers it important to recall that it should always be
processed in accordance with data protection principles.

21. Some data at stake might even need specific protection, if
they can be considered as sensitive data in the sense of
Article 8 of Directive 95/46/EC. This can be the case for
data related to authors of infringements as well as victims
of abuse, especially when it comes to child pornography. It
must be noted that at national
level, some systems of
reporting have required modification of the data protection
legislation in order to enable the processing of judicial data
of suspected offenders or victims (6). The EDPS insists on
the fact that any reporting system to be put in place takes
into account the existing data protection framework. The
demonstration of a public interest, as well as guarantees
related to the supervision of the system, in principle by law
enforcement authorities, are decisive elements to comply
with this framework.

II. The role of technical tools in a privacy perspective

22. The use of technical tools is promoted as one of the solu-
tions to deal with illegal content and harmful conduct (7).
Examples of such tools are given in the impact assess-
ment (8),
including age recognition, face recognition (for
victim identification by law enforcement authorities) or
filtering technologies. According to the proposal these tools
should be better adapted to practical needs and accessible
to relevant stakeholders.

23. The EDPS has already taken a clear position (9) in favour of
the use of new technologies to enhance the protection of
the rights of individuals. He considers that the principle of
‘privacy by design’ should constitute an inherent part of
technological development which implies the processing of
personal data. The EDPS therefore strongly encourages the
development of projects aiming at developing technologies
in that sense.

24. It

is especially important

to develop systems that will
reduce as much as possible the exposure of children's
personal data providing them a reliable protection and to
offer them accordingly the opportunity to use new tools of
the Information Society like social networks in a safer way.

(1) See ‘www.ico.gov.uk/youngpeople’.
(2) See ‘www.dubestemmer.no’.
(3) See ‘dadus.cnpd.pt/’.
(4) Annex 1 of the proposal.
(5) See e.g. the website put in place by the Belgian authorities for these

purposes: www.ecops.be

(6) See the Belgian Law on Data Protection of 8 December 1992,
Article 3(6) related to the processing of data by the Centre for the
reporting of missing or sexually abused children.

(7) Annex 1, Actions, point 1.
(8) Impact assessment, point 3.1.
(9) 2006 EDPS annual report part 3.5.1 Technological developments.

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25. It should nevertheless be recalled that, depending on the
way they are used, technological tools can have a variety of
impacts on individuals. If they are used in order to filter or
to block information, they can stop the access by children
to content that could be potentially damaging, but they can
also prevent
to legitimate
information.

someone

to get

access

31. The collaboration of

awareness of

the industry in the perspective of
raising the
actors
children and other
concerned, like parents or educators, is of course welcome.
Putting in place alert systems and moderators on websites
allowing for the exclusion of inappropriate content, is also
an essential
content
the
providers.

responsibility of

aspect of

26. Even if the major concern here relates to freedom of access
to information, there is still a consequence in a privacy
perspective. Indeed, filtering, especially in its most recent
developments using identity management, can function on
the basis of given criteria, including personal data such as
the age of the individual connected to the network (to
prevent access by adults or children to specified content),
the content of the information and traffic data linked with
the identity of the author of the information. Depending on
the way this personal information will — automatically —
be processed, the individuals concerned could face conse-
quences with regard to their right to communicate online.

27. The use of filtering or blocking tools to control the access
to networks must therefore be used in a cautious way,
taking into account their possible adverse effects and taking
full profit of the privacy enhancing opportunities offered by
the technology.

28. The EDPS welcomes the precision given in the impact
assessment (1) according to which none of the proposed
options should affect the rights to privacy and freedom of
expression. He also shares the view expressed therein that
one of
empowerment,
‘empowerment for making better choices and taking
i.e.
appropriate actions’ to protect children (2).

the main objectives

is user

III. The responsibility of service providers

29. The collaboration of all stakeholders is considered in the
proposal as a necessary element to enhance the protection
of children using communication technologies. Among
these stakeholders, the proposal (3) foresees the participa-
tion and the involvement of the industry especially through
self-regulation.

30. Being responsible for the provision of telecommunication
and content services, the industry in this sector could have
some influence on the reporting, filtering or blocking of
information when it is considered as illegal or harmful. The
extent to which it can actually be entrusted with such a
in a legal perspective, could nevertheless lead to
task,
discussion.

(1) Impact assessment, point 5.2.
(2) In that sense, filters would be meant to be initialised by parents, and
could be de-activated, so that the adult remains in full control of the
filtering effect.

(3) Recital 8 of the preamble; Annex 1, point 1.4; Summary of the impact

assessment, point 3.1.

32. As far as telecommunication service providers are concerned,
the monitoring of telecommunications is however a deba-
table question, either aimed at
the control of content
protected by intellectual property rights or other illegal
content. The issue raises the question of the intervention of
a commercial actor, offering a specific (telecommunication)
service, in a sphere where it is in principle not supposed to
intervene, that is, the control of the content of the telecom-
munications. The EDPS recalls that such control should in
principle not be done by service providers, and certainly
not in a systematic way. When it is necessary in specific
law
circumstances,
enforcement authorities.

it should in principle be the task of

33. In its opinion of 18 January 2005, the Article 29 Working
Party has recalled in relation with this issue (4) that ‘no
systematic obligation of surveillance and collaboration can
be imposed on ISPs, pursuant to Article 15 of Directive
2000/31/EC on electronic commerce.
(…) As stated in
Article 8 of the Data protection Directive, processing of
data related to offences, criminal convictions or security
measures can be processed only under strict conditions as
implemented by Member States. While any individual
obviously has the right
to process judicial data in the
process of his/her own litigation, the principle does not go
as far as permitting in depth investigation, collection and
centralisation of personal data by third parties, including in
particular, systematic research on a general scale such as the
scanning of the Internet (…). Such investigation falls within
the competence of judicial authorities’.

34. In an area where freedom of speech, access to information,
privacy and other fundamental rights are at stake, this inter-
vention of private actors raises the question of the propor-
tionality of the means used. The European Parliament has
recently adopted a resolution stressing the need for a solu-
tion in compliance with the fundamental rights of indivi-
duals (5). In point 23 of its resolution,
it states that ‘the
Internet is a vast platform for cultural expression, access to
knowledge, and democratic participation in European crea-
tivity, bringing generations together through the informa-
tion society; [the Parliament] calls on the Commission and
the Member States, to avoid adopting measures conflicting
with civil liberties and human rights and with the principles
of proportionality, effectiveness and dissuasiveness, such as
the interruption of Internet access’.

(4) Working document of the Article 29 Working Party on data protection

issues related to intellectual property rights, WP 104.

(5) European Parliament resolution of 10 April 2008 on cultural industries

in Europe (2007/2153(INI)), point 23.

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35. The EDPS considers that a balance has to be found between
the legitimate objective to fight against illegal content and
the appropriate nature of the means used. He recalls that
any action of surveillance of telecommunication networks,
where necessary in specific cases, should be the task of law
enforcement authorities.

IV. CONCLUSION

36. The EDPS supports

for a multiannual
the proposal
programme to protect children using the Internet and other
communication technologies. He welcomes the fact that
this programme intends to focus on the development of
new technologies and on the elaboration of concrete
actions to enhance the effectiveness of the protection of
children.

37. The EDPS recalls that the protection of personal data is an
essential prerequisite to the safety of children online. Misuse
of children's personal information must be prevented, using
the orientations proposed in the programme, and especially
the following:

— ensuring awareness of children and other stakeholders

like parents and educators,

— favouring the exchange of good practice and practical
experience amongst relevant authorities, including data
protection authorities.

38. These actions should be developed without overlooking the
fact that the protection of children takes place within an
environment where the rights of others might be at stake.
Any initiative of collecting, blocking or reporting informa-
tion should only be taken in the respect of the fundamental
rights of all
individuals involved and in compliance with
the data protection legal framework. In particular, the EDPS
recalls that the surveillance of telecommunication networks,
where necessary in specific circumstances, should be the
task of law enforcement authorities.

39. The EDPS notes that this programme constitutes a general
framework for further concrete actions. He considers that
some observations made in this opinion are a first step and
could be developed in a practical way, by reference to the
projects still to be put in place, in line with the orientations
of the programme. He recommends that data protection
authorities be closely involved when it comes to the defini-
tion of these practical projects. He also refers to the activ-
ities of the Article 29 Working Party on the subject, and in
particular to the present work of the Working Party on
social networks (1).

— promoting the development of best practice by the

industry,

Done at Brussels, 23 June 2008.

— promoting the development of privacy compliant tech-

nological tools,

Peter HUSTINX

European Data Protection Supervisor

(1) See the Working Document 1/2008 of 18 February 2008 on the
protection of Children's Personal Data, WP 147, and for a more
general view, the work programme 2008-2009 of the Working Party
including social networks, available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/privacy/workinggroup/wpdocs/
2008_en.htm