2 December 2004

Labour MEPs have strongly backed important new measures on making the internet safe for children and for helping to deal with illegal and harmful content on the internet including overtly racist and violent sites.

Speaking in the debate on 1st December on the Mastenbroek Report, Labour MEP Claude Moraes, a member of the Civil Liberties Committee said,

"Labour MEPs regard this report as a classic example of a cross border issue which can be effectively tackled by the European Union in response to real concerns raised by citizens across the EU."

Mr Moraes added,

"On Friday 3rd December I will visit the London offices of Childline, one of the UK's leading childcare charities. I will be able to tell them that the European Parliament has approved:

An improvement in fighting illegal content the internet by co-funding hotlines to report illegal content
Development of new filter software to empower certain users
Improving industry codes of conduct of internet providers
Increased budgets for awareness raising

A sensible balance must be struck between freedom of expression on the internet and the use of hotlines and new filter technology to deal with illegal and harmful content."

Labour MEPs voted for the Mastenbroek Report, Establishing a Multiannual Community Programme on Promoting Safer Use of the Internet

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