92002E1515

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.