MEPs back child proof internet

The European Parliament has backed calls for new measures to rid the internet of racist, violent or pornographic content, making it safer for children across the EU.

MEPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of a report on Thursday listing measures put forward by the European Commission to tackle illegal and harmful content on the web.

The safer Internet Plus programme, includes a €45 million budget for setting up telephone hotlines to report illegal content in all member states, filter technology for unwanted or harmful sites, an improved industry code of conduct for internet providers and awareness raising campaigns.

An EU survey last year found that 14 per cent of children who use chat rooms on the internet met someone they encountered on the web.

But only four per cent of adults believed their children had done so.

Speaking during the debate, Labour MEP Claude Moraes welcomed the report as a "classic example of a cross border issue which can be effectively tackled by the EU in response to real concerns raised by citizens across the EU".

"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.

The Safer Internet Plus Programme will run from 2005-2008.

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