[FYI] CEC wants awareness actions for safer use of the Internet

[Horns@t-online.de (Axel H. Horns)]

CORDIS RTD-NEWS/c European Communities, 1999 

 Record Control Number : 12658 
                             Date : 1999-04-07 


Category : Tender

General Information : 

The European Commission has published an open call, under the Action
Plan on promoting safer use of the Internet, to demonstrate content
filtering and rating systems and to prepare awareness actions. 

The Action Plan is a multiannual Community programme covering the
period 1999-2002, under which several calls for proposals are
envisaged. In the framework of the Action Plan, the Commission calls
for proposals covering either of the following two areas: 

- The application of filtering and rating systems for Internet content
(demonstration projects); - To promote awareness of safe use of the
Internet (preparatory actions). 

The objective of actions in the first area is to permit Internet users
(parents, teachers) who have a responsibility for other users to
decide what content they wish the persons for whom they are
responsible to be able to access. 

To realise this goal, proposals may be considered that give the user
control over the use to which an Internet connection is put. Such
proposals may include technologies based on metadata-content labels,
or characteristics of online content to create "filtering and rating
systems" to improve access to appropriate information. 

Classification of information content may be done by content
providers, third-party experts, local administrators, a survey or
vote, or by automated tools. Mechanisms may be located on the user's
personal computer, on a Local Area Network (LAN) or local proxy
server, at an Internet Service Provider, on a remote proxy server, or
as part of a search engine or website. 

The demonstration projects should involve self-regulatory bodies,
industry users, consumer and citizens rights groups and government
bodies involved in industry regulation and protection of minors. 

The call will take place in two stages. The first is intended for the
development of prototypes, which will then be evaluated for selection
for further funding in a second stage. 

The objectives of actions in the second area are to promote awareness
actions directed at users, in particular children, parents and
teachers, to allow them to use Internet resources provided by industry
safely and with confidence. They will stimulate use in the home and
schools of Internet services by reducing the cause for concern that
may be felt by parents and teachers about the availability of illegal
and harmful content. 

Awareness actions will contribute to the success of the first area by
stimulating the application and take-up of filtering and rating
systems to guide or control access to Internet services. 

The actions in this second area will be carried out in two stages. In
the first, the best means of achieving the objectives will be
identified and pilot projects will be launched. In the second,
multiplier organisations in the Member States - such as consumer
bodies and other relevant associations - will be assisted to implement
actions nationally. The present call for proposals is for the first
stage. 

The call for proposals is open to entities, whether private of public,
within the European Union. All projects must be trans-national in
scope and include cooperation between independent organisations
established in different Member States. Participation may be open to
entities in third countries under the conditions set out in the
technical background documents. 

Information about the call is available on the Commission's website
at: 

URL: http://www.echo.lu/iap 

Remarks : 

All proposals responding to this call must be submitted by 5pm on 2
July 1999.

Data Source Provider : Official Journal of the European Communities

Document Reference : OJ No C 92 of 01.04.1999, p. 12.

Subject Index Codes : Telecommunications; Information, Media

Contact Person : 

For further information, please contact: 

Calls Central Office 
European Commission 
DG XIII-E/5 
L-2920 Luxembourg 
Fax +352 -4301-38099 
E-mail: iap@cec.be