91997E2582

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2582/97 by Johanna Maij-Weggen (PPE) to the Commission (24 July 1997)

Subject: Internet

Are you aware that the Internet provider Xs4All has decided to ban from its Internet services any material containing child pornography?

Is it technically and legally feasible to get all providers on the Internet to take such action, and is the Commission prepared to take such a measure, should it prove possible?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (6 October 1997)

There is no legal or technical difficulty for Internet service providers in following the action of the Dutch service provider in removing child pornography from its own servers.

The publication of child pornography is illegal in all Member States, whatever the means by which it is distributed, including Internet. Illegal content must be dealt with at source by law-enforcement agencies. The industry can help reduce circulation of illegal content through properly-functioning systems of self-regulation (such as codes of conduct, establishment of hot-lines) in compliance with and supported by the legal system.

Third-party content hosting services should not be expected to exercise prior control on content which they have no reason to believe is illegal. Where they are aware of such content, including child pornography, they should take steps to remove it.

The fight against child pornography on the Internet requires co-operation between all concerned at national, European and international level, since such content may be placed in circulation in any country which is nconnected to the Internet. The Commission is actively engaged with the other institutions and Member States in promoting effective action in this area but cannot act as a substitute for national law enforcement agencies. Links to all relevant documents can be found at http://www2.echo.lu/legal/en/internet/internet.html.