EU and U.S. Sign Joint Declaration to Make the Internet Safer for
Kids
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- European Commission Vice President for the Digital Agenda
Neelie Kroes and the U.S. Secretary
of Homeland Security Janet
Napolitano have today signed a joint declaration in
London, committing to make the
Internet a safer and better place for children.
In the declaration, Vice President Kroes and Secretary
Napolitano:
- agree to implement joint campaigns on the occasion of an annual
Safer Internet Day. As a first step, the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security intends to participate in the European Union's
Safer Internet Day for young people on February 5, 2013.
- commit to contribute to international cooperation in fighting
child sexual abuse online in the immediate future. This will build
on existing work by the Virtual Global Taskforce and Interpol on
law enforcement collaboration to combat child sexual abuse
worldwide. International cooperation is essential if we are to be
effective in fighting child sexual abuse online.
- acknowledge that parents and guardians need to trust the
content and services their children access and commit to continue
working with industry and other stakeholders so that parents and
children can make informed choices online.
This declaration complements other European Commission
initiatives to keep children safe and confident in the digital
world. These include the EU Strategy for a safer internet and
better internet content for children and teenagers presented
earlier this year, and a Commission-brokered coalition of top tech
& media companies to make the internet a better place for our
kids.
Background
The groundwork for today's declaration was prepared by the
EU-U.S. Working Group on Cyber-security and Cyber-crime. This was
established in the context of the EU-U.S. Summit of November 20, 2010 held in Lisbon with the aim to tackle new threats to
the global networks upon which the security and prosperity of our
free societies increasingly depend.
Within the European Commission, Vice-President Kroes is
responsible for cyber-security and Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom for tackling cyber-crime.
Within the United States, the
Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Department
of State, Department of Commerce and other federal entities
collaborate to help strengthen cyber-security and fight
cyber-crime.
For further information, please see:
Joint Declaration
Better Internet for Kids in the Digital Agenda for Europe
Coalition of top tech & media companies to make internet better
place for our kids
Safer Internet Day
Have Your say
Hash Tag: #SaferInternet, #BetterInternet4Kid
Neelie Kroes website
Vice President Kroes' Twitter account
SOURCE Delegation of the European Union to the United States