The Safe Internet Action Plan Will Run until the End of 2004

The Safer Internet Action Plan provided funding for activities to deal with illegal and harmful content on the Internet. In this second phase of two years, starting in 2003, the coverage of safer use will be extended to new online technologies, including mobile and broadband content, online games, peer-to-peer file transfer, and all forms of real-time communications such as chat rooms and instant messages (the first Action Plan was based mainly on web contents). Action will be taken to ensure that a broader range of areas of illegal and harmful content and conduct of concern are covered, including racism and violence, and consumer protection (data protection/privacy, network and data security).

The second phase will also prepare for a possible subsequent wider initiative related to content in Internet and new on-line media, including where appropriate support for creation of high-quality European content designed specifically for children and new-media education to deal with convergence of technologies and broader issues of online safety such as consumer protection.

Implementation actions under second phase includes allowing users to resport illegal content, promotes self-regulation, empowering users to avoid harmful contents, encouraging user-friendly content rating and the increasing awareness of safer use.

With a global budget of 13,3 million Euro, the Safer Internet Action Plan II will propose financial support to projects. First calls of proposals and Calls of Tenders are expected in 2003.

More information can be found in http://www.saferinternet.org/, the Action Plan dissmination website.