EU: Protection for minors

After many months of discussion in the Culture Committee the Whitehead Report on the protection of minors in the information society has finally come before the EP for adoption. The report describes the rapid expansion in electronic methods of production and dissemination of information, and raises issues concerning the protection of minors and human dignity. Its author will this week recommend that the EP votes in favour of measures and initiatives which encourage self-regulation involving the industry as well as access and service providers. Philip Whitehead’s report calls for a regular and systematic review of the self-regulatory frameworks to be carried out. Two years after the entry into force of the recommendation, an evaluation of their effectiveness should be made to determine whether regulatory action is needed.