Division 4 ACTION 4: AWARENESS-RAISING

Awareness-raising actions should address a range of categories of illegal, unwanted and harmful content (including, for example, content considered unsuitable for children and racist and xenophobic content) and, where appropriate, take into account related issues of consumer protection, data protection and information and network security (viruses/spam). They should deal with content distributed over the World Wide Web as well as new forms of interactive information and communication brought about by the rapid spread of the Internet and mobile telephony (e.g. peer-to-peer services, broadband video, instant messaging, chatrooms, etc.).

The Commission will continue to take steps to encourage cost-effective means of distribution of information to large numbers of users, notably by using multiplier organisations and electronic dissemination channels, so as to reach the intended target groups. The Commission could consider in particular the use of mass media and distribution of information material to schools and Internet cafés.

The programme will provide support to appropriate bodies, which will be selected following an open call for proposals to act as awareness-raising nodes in each Member State and candidate country and, which will carry out awareness-raising actions and programmes in close cooperation with all relevant actors at national, regional and local levels. European added value will be provided by a coordinating node, which will liaise closely with other nodes to ensure that best practice is exchanged.

Bodies seeking to act as awareness-raising nodes will need to show that they have the strong support of national authorities. They should have a clear mandate to educate the public in safer use of the Internet and new online technologies or in media and information literacy, and must have the necessary financial resources to implement that mandate.

Awareness-raising nodes will be expected to:

• devise a cohesive, hard-hitting and targeted awareness-raising campaign using the most appropriate media, taking into account best practice and experience in other countries,

• establish and maintain a partnership (formal or informal) with key players (government agencies, press and media groups, ISP associations, user organisations, education stakeholders) and actions in their country relating to safer use of the Internet and new online technologies,

• promote dialogue and exchange of information notably between stakeholders from the education and technological fields,

• where appropriate, cooperate with work in areas related to this programme such as in the wider fields of media and information literacy or consumer protection,

• inform users about European filtering software and services and about hotlines and self-regulation schemes,

• actively cooperate with other national nodes in the European network by exchanging information about best practices, participating in meetings and designing and implementing a European approach, adapted as necessary for national linguistic and cultural preferences,

• provide a pool of expertise and technical assistance to start up awareness-raising nodes (new nodes could be ‘adopted’ by a more experienced node).

To ensure maximum cooperation and effectiveness, the coordinating node will be funded to provide logistical and infrastructural support for nodes in each Member State, ensuring European-level visibility, good communication and exchange of experience so that lessons learnt can be applied on an ongoing basis (for instance by adapting material used for raising public awareness).

The coordinating node should:

• provide effective communication and ensure that information and best practice are exchanged within the network,

• provide training in safer use of the Internet and new online technologies for the staff of awareness-raising nodes (training for trainers),

• provide technical assistance to candidate countries wishing to set up awareness-raising actions,

• coordinate the provision by awareness-raising nodes of expertise and technical assistance to start up awareness-raising nodes,

• propose indicators and manage the collection, analysis and exchange of statistical information about awareness-raising activities, so as to assess their impact,

• provide infrastructure for a single, comprehensive transnational repository (web portal) of relevant information and awareness-raising and research resources with localised content (or local subsites, as appropriate), which may include news snippets, articles and monthly newsletters in several languages, and provide visibility for Safer Internet Forum activities,

• expand links with awareness-raising activities outside Europe,

• participate in the Safer Internet Forum and other relevant events, coordinating input/feedback from the awareness-raising network.

Research will also be carried out on a comparable basis into the way people, especially children, use new online technologies. Further action at Community level could for instance include support for specific child-friendly Internet services or an award for the best awareness-raising activity of the year.