Byron report update
15 May 2008
Children Internet Safety will launch in September
The UK Council for Child Internet Safety will launch in September 2008, six months ahead of the recommended timescale set out by Dr Tanya Byron in her report Safer Children in a Digital World, it was announced yesterday.
Stakeholders, including a mixture of children’s charities and industry, were informed about how they can join the UK Council for Child Internet Safety. This will be responsible for developing and leading a Child Internet Safety Strategy and advising Government on e-safety.
Back in March the Government accepted all of Dr Byron’s recommendations in full – and yesterday the Government outlined the next steps. These are:
Ministers want safeguards to balance the freedom of the internet
- June: Cross Department Action Plan – end of June 2008
- September: Launch of the UK Council on Child Internet Safety
- Spring 2009: First Child Internet Safety Summit hosted by the Prime.
Minister for Children and young people Kevin Brennan, said: ‘We are inviting experts within industry and children’s charities to come forward and provide their expertise and advice by joining the UK Council on Child Internet Safety. By developing an e-safety strategy together, we can help children to learn and play safe online whilst at the same time supporting parents to manage new pressures they face in a modern technological world.
“These next steps show our commitment to acting on Dr Byron’s recommendations with the same pace and strength that they were set out. By engaging across Government and industry we will provide a robust and coherent strategy within the outlined time frame.’
Culture Minister Margaret Hodge added: ‘The freedom the internet brings must be balanced by appropriate safeguards, and this key recommendation from Dr Byron’s landmark report will help children and parents safely enjoy the wealth of benefits that the internet can offer.’
Click here to read a summary of Byron’s findings.
