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There is much discussion on Internet safety for children and there are also initiatives in this regard. With yesterday's newsletter on privacy Watchdog has made ​​reference to Recommendation n. 1882 addressed to the Member States of the Council of Europe and national parliaments adopted September 28, 2009 by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The intervention of the Guarantor contained in the newsletter, in my humble opinion, should be seen as a further warning to all to ensure that more children, constituting the "digital generation", live with greater intensity and easily using the tools of new technologies like Internet and mobile devices.

Probably, the intervention of the Ombudsman is not unusual, given that is published on the eve of the World Conference to be held in Madrid next 4 to 6 November and the outcome of which will adopted a resolution on their own social network of worldwide importance. Neither must we overlook the role that he assumed the Guarantor and that is to interventionist in situations where there is often no legislation for this purpose.

Returning to the recommendation of the Council of Europe, can not sottacersi the tendency of European bodies once to take unequivocal positions on issues that are still timely. Indeed, beyond the documents already known to September the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has published the review " Impact of social networking websites "with obvious references to security & safety and the risks associated with privacy. In addition, the Commissioner V. Reding on 23 October at the EDPS workshop ENISA-Seminar 'Responding to Data Breaches' he said, among other things,

That is my vision of security and data protection in the Information Society must be based on a comprehensive risk assessment and management on Approaches, 'which takes into account all hazards and threats, Whether They Come from cyber-attacks, from natural disruptions, or any other source .

The above recommendation, then, refers to one of the crucial points of the program of the European Commission in this area: the Safer Internet Programme (which, however, I work for the Italian node). I recently participated at the annual "Safer Internet Forum 2009" which this year has given their children a full session.

It is undoubtedly an issue is not simple. Aspects related to the safety for children on the Internet are just as many solutions. In fact, the actors involved are numerous, but these are the most important areas: children, parents and families, schools and teachers. I do not think there is a solution, I think we should work on multiple fronts. It 'requires a massive awareness campaign, awareness raising, directed to the aforementioned major nuclei. These days you have started the Tour Easy that, as part of Safer Internet, helping to raise awareness of their own, via a bus traveling to Italy, students, parents and teachers. A primary role, however, is always that of the parents should give their children what are the risks of misuse or less aware of the Internet. The Internet is an amazing resource, so that has changed our lives over the last few years, but it should be a conscious approach to exploit its enormous resources.