Decision No 854/2005/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 establishing a multiannual Community Programme on promoting safer use of the Internet and new online technologies

Summary of the initiative

Objective(s)
The aim of Decision No 854/2005/EC is to fund programmes in particular "projects which aim to adapt rating systems and quality labels to take account of the convergence of telecommunications, audio-visual media and information technology and to self-regulatory initiatives to back up the reliability of self-labelling and services for assessing the accuracy of self-rating labels." (Annex I, Action 2). The Commission by defining funding criteria has set a framework for Co-regulation. "A fully functioning system of self-regulation is an essential element in limiting the flow of unwanted, harmful and illegal content. Self-regulation involves a number of components: consultation and appropriate representation of the parties concerned; codes of conduct; national bodies facilitating cooperation at Community level; and national evaluation of self-regulation frameworks. There is a continuing need for Community work in this area to encourage the European Internet and new online technologies industries to implement codes of conduct." (Annex I, Action 3). It was followed by the Safer Internet programme 2009-13, which pursued the objectives of the 2005 “Safer Internet Plus” programme (referred to as Better Internet for Kids - BIK). Since 2014, the continuation of the programme is provided under the “Connecting Europe Facility” (CEF).

Description of the Initiative

Obsolete case
    Sector

    Sector

    Contact Point - Commission
    MARKT E.2.

    Self/Co-Regulation Basic Act

    LEGISLATIVE ACT
    Year
    2005
    Title of Act
    Decision No 854/2005/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 establishing a multiannual Community Programme on promoting safer use of the Internet and new online technologies, Official Journal L 149, 11.6.2005, p. 1-13

    Geographical Coverage

    Global coverage
    Participating Countries
    Austria

    Description

    Problems that lead to the introduction of Self/Co-Regulation and the adoption of the Founding Act
    Exposure to internet content which is potentially harmful to children or unwanted by the end-user and in the area of illegal content, in particular child pornography and racist material.
    Target Group(s)
    On-line Internet service providers
    Type of Instrument(s)
    Unspecified
    Level(s) at which private rules should be defined and applied
    Type of Financing
    EU supporting fund - "The financial framework for the implementation of the Community actions under this Decision for the period from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2008 is set at EUR 45 million".
    Type of Monitoring
    Conduct an initial survey of compliance capacity of future regulateesConduct regular visits and spot checksInitiate complaints proceduresMaintain database of those bounded by the normsProduce regular reportsReceive complaints and verify if norms were breached or notReflexive dialogue with the - stakeholdersOther
    European Commissionyesyes
    National public authority
    International public authority
    Private regulator (code owner)
    Private independent party with a mandate (e.g. auditors)
    Self-appointed private parties (e.g. NGOs)
    Succinct description of the type of Monitoring
    Commission´s monitoring of the design and implementation phase of self-regulatory schemes. No specification in the Decision (the Commission shall monitor the implementation of projects under the programme and shall report on the implementation of the actions to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. It shall also submit a final evaluation report at the end of the programme.
    Type of Enforcement
    Faming, shaming and blamingJudicial sanctionsMembership suspension/exclusionPrivate finesOther
    Private Regulator
    Private independent party with a mandate (e.g. auditors)
    Court system
    Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) / Online dispute resolution (ODR)