Welcome to the June edition of the Insafe Newsletter!

Filtering software is often controversial and inefficient. It may temporarily work for young children but it can be bypassed by savvy teenagers. The logic of some filters is incompatible with the ever-changing nature of internet. Others are high-performing but restrict access to information. It is a challenge to maintain filtering mechanisms in a constantly changing and evolving environment.

There is no common approach to filters in Italy. Some advocate child protection by means of censorship laws and strict regulation of online content. Others maintain that any curtailment of freedom of expression is not only unacceptable but also prevents children from having access to precious and educational channels of information.

At an institutional level, there have been various mediating efforts (as highlighted in one of the articles of this month’s country focus). The trend, however, is to leave the choice up to parents & educators as to which method to use.

There is obviously not enough information or education in this field: very few of the parents we met in schools during the “EASY Tour” were aware of the existence of these systems. As they lack technical competence they tend to limit minors’ access to internet content. This choice may compromise the level of confidence between parent and child.

How does one establish the right level of information-filtering? Every child needs limits to a certain extent and control is partly inevitable. However, it should equally allow for some degree of self-management and democratic choice.

Filters nevertheless are elements of a more complex system that not only implies control but also awareness raising, information and preventive actions. It enables parents and children to work together to build critical capability and command. This encourages reflection and develops the necessary awareness for children to master both the opportunities and risks offered by new technologies.

Cristiana De Paoli, Save the Children Italy–EASY project

• About Insafe
  Insafe is a European network of 23 nodes in 21 countries, dedicated to raising awareness of internet safety. It includes a broad range of organisations such as charities, universities and media councils.
  
  Insafe is coordinated by European Schoolnet and gets the support of the European Commission’s Safer Internet Programme.

• Contact us
  For information about Insafe and internet safety, visit: www.saferinternet.org
  Enquiries about Insafe can be sent to:
  info-insafe@eun.org

Internet filters and Swedish parents

Internet is full of content that may be inappropriate for children and young people. One solution is software filters. In Sweden, their use is not very widespread and there are even strong voices against them.
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Czech survey on internet safety awareness

The Czech awareness node is preparing a survey in cooperation with the Polish awareness node (Nobody’s Children Foundation).
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Youngsters often victims of cyberbullying

A Dutch survey among primary and secondrary students and parents shows that cyberbullying through the internet and mobile phones is a frequent phenomenon.
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NetAlert National Libraries Project

NetAlert continues with the National Libraries Project sponsoring Library and Information Week 2006 in Australia.
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Content filtering: beyond pornography

MedIEQ is a European project addressing quality aspects of medical web sites by providing a bridge between automatic and manual classification of medical information resources.
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Saferinternet.at focuses on parents

New brochures and handouts about safe use of internet and mobile phones are available. The material addresses the role of parents and caretakers.
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Teens discover online sexuality

A study among 11,000 teens using personal blogging sites shows that searching for sex or a relationship on the internet has become a new and frequent activity among youths.
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Danish Minister of Culture offers internet filters to libraries

Last month Brian Mikkelsen, the Danish Minister of Culture offered all Danish libraries internet filters in order to prevent children from being faced with porn sites on library computers.
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Interest grows in safer internet awareness and hotline networks

In mid-May, the European Commission organised two Information Days, one at the request of a new EU member state and another a candidate country.
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"Unlimited web variety- safer internet in the European network"
29 June 2006
Mainz, Germany
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Safer Internet Forum
21 June 2006

Luxembourg
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What about Insafe Olympic Games?

Two important events involving young people and new technologies have taken place in Italy lately: the Olympic Games of information science and the 8th edition of the Mediashow multimedia Olympic Games.
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Wiki platform for students

In the EDEN project internet represents an integral part of awareness tools. The dedicated wiki platform encourages students to use internet responsibly.
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Minors and the net

On 19 November 2003, the Italian law on “internet and minors” was signed. It was the outcome of collaboration between the Ministry of Communications, internet industries and associations involved in the protection of minors.
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