European Framework Builds on Mobile Operator Initiatives to make Mobile Services Safer for Children
06th February 2007 - Brussels: Mobile providers and content providers have today signed the European Framework for Safer Mobile Use by Younger Teenagers and Children.
Fifteen signatories have signed the EU-wide Framework, which puts forward recommendations to ensure that younger teenagers and children can safely access content on their mobile phones. The Framework will facilitate the roll-out of national voluntary agreements by highlighting approaches that have already been implemented successfully by the mobile provider and content communities in a number of EU Member States.
Specific approaches addressed by this EU-wide Framework include:
- access control mechanisms,
- classification of commercial content,
- fighting illegal content on the Internet,
- raising awareness and education.
The content of the Framework was deliberated at a series of high-level group meetings co-ordinated by GSM Europe under the auspices of the European Commission. The signing took place on the Safer Internet Day in the presence of Commissioner Reding.
"The timing could not have been more pertinent as this fourth edition of Safer Internet Day mainly focuses on child safety and mobile phones. The coming together, on such a significant day, of so many representatives from the mobile industry shows that child protection is indeed a top priority for the sector" said Kaisu Karvala, Chairman of GSM Europe. "Mobile and content providers, in collaboration with NGOs and other stakeholders, have already developed national codes of conduct in a number of EU Member States. The aim of this initiative is to support the development of frameworks in the rest of the EU", she continued.
Mobile providers already work with customers, parents and other stakeholders, including child protection organisations, to promote safer mobile use. Mobile providers also recognise the crucial role played by the content community in classifying their content against national societal standards, and welcome the support of policy makers and trade associations for industry initiatives such as the Framework.
Signatory mobile providers and others, including content providers, will work towards the implementation of the Framework through self-regulation at national level in the EU Member States. The signatories have also committed to promoting the Framework in Member States where such an initiative does not currently exist.
GSM Europe and the European Commission will work together to evaluate progress made in a year's time. Mobile operators encourage other stakeholders to join this effort in order to increase safety for younger teenagers and children.
Quotes
Sanjiv Ahuja, Chief Executive Officer of Orange SA said, "Orange welcomes this Framework, which builds upon initiatives which already exist in a number of Member States and encourages all relevant stakeholders to support safer mobile use".
Wolfgang Kopf, Senior Executive Vice President of Deutsche Telekom/T-Mobile, stressed that "mobile providers have already done a good job improving the protection of minors in many countries. With new evolving services the principles of this Framework will support mobile providers in continuing to adapt and improve their child safety activities. However, it is important to understand that governments and schools also have a role to play in educating children on media consumption."
Matthew Kirk, Director of External Relationships of Vodafone Group said "Vodafone welcomes this industry self-regulatory initiative. We are committed to providing advice and effective access to information about the use of mobile phone services, as well as measures by which parents can ensure safer use by their children".
Irini Nikolaidi, General Counsel of COSMOTE Group, said "The European Framework for Safer Mobile Use based on the principles of proactive self-regulation works towards creating an even safer information environment today and tomorrow, and we look forward to supporting the initiative by engaging all stakeholders in an active and ongoing dialogue."
Luigi Gambardella, Vice President of Telecom Italia for the Relations with the International Institutions, highlighted the great value of the European Framework, promoted by the European Commission, and its role in providing a common ground for key industry players in the protection of minors: "We would like to thank Commissioner Viviane Reding for having supported this initiative in a timely and efficient way, recognising that the protection of minors in the provision of mobile services is a common goal for both the European Institutions and the mobile industry."
Ramiro Sánchez de Lerín, General Counsel and Secretary of the Board of Telefónica S.A. underlined that "this European Framework for Safer Mobile Use is another positive step in the right direction. Safer use of mobile phones and the protection of minors depend on responsibility being shared across a range of stakeholders including mobile providers, manufacturers, governments, and NGOs, as well as parents and carers. Telefónica, like the rest of the European mobile providers, will continue to contribute actively to that goal through a wide range of creative and innovative initiatives, run jointly with other stakeholders."
Signatories:
Bouygues Telecom
Cosmote Group
Deutsche Telekom Group/T-Mobile
Hutchison 3G Europe
Jamba! GmbH
Mobile Entertainment Forum
MobIsle Communications Ltd operating under the brand name of Go Mobile
Orange S.A.
Royal KPN N.V.
SFR
Telecom Italia S.p.A
Telefonica S.A.
Telenor
TeliaSonera
Vodafone Group Services Limited
European Commission
- European Commission Press Pack Safer Internet Day:
http://europa.eu.int/information_society/newsroom/cf/itemlongdetail.cfm?item_id=3153;
- Pictures: http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/photo/index_en.cfm.
Click to view the European framework text
Click here to view the a selection of photographs from the press conference by Viviane Reding, Member of the EC in charge of Information Society and Media, on the occasion of the signature of the "European Framework for Safer Mobile Use"
Notes to editors
The Safer Internet Day 2007 is organised under the patronage of Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding; it will be celebrated across more than 30 countries worldwide and will mainly focus on child safety and mobile phones. Safer Internet Day is part of a global drive by awareness-raising partners to promote a safer Internet for all users, especially young people.
About GSM Europe
GSM Europe is the European interest group of the GSM Association, representing 147 members in 50 European countries/areas serving 558 million customers. The GSM Association (GSMA) is the global trade association representing more than 700 GSM mobile phone operators across 217 countries of the world. In addition, more than 180 manufacturers and suppliers support the Association's initiatives as key partners.
www.gsmeurope.org
For further information contact:
GSM Europe
Tel: +32 2 706 81 05
Email: gsme@gsm.org
David Pringle
GSMA
Tel: +44 7850229724 / +44 7957556069
Email:press@gsm.org
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