A lineup of some of the speakers at the Child Safety online Conference
The rapid rise of ICT facilities, including the internet and television, has brought comfort and happiness to homes worldwide. These technologies have transformed education, communication, and business, creating unprecedented opportunities for growth and connection.
Unfortunately, the internet’s expansion has also opened the door to serious risks. Online pollution, ranging from abuse and trafficking to sexual predators, continues to endanger children across the globe. These threats highlight the urgent need for stronger protection, awareness, and global cooperation.
To address these challenges, Microsoft, Disney Club Penguin Company, The Walt Disney Company Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and Forum Europe co‑organized a one‑day conference on November 12, 2013, at the Renaissance Hotel in Brussels.
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The event brought together experts to discuss the online risks faced by children in both developed and developing countries and to explore strategies to help young people stay safe online.
Distinguished professionals with deep experience in child welfare participated in the discussions. Among them were Mr. David Miles, Director of the EMEA Family Online Institute; Mr. Robert Madelin, Director General for DG Connect at the European Commission, who delivered the keynote address; Doreen Bogdan‑Martin, Chief of Strategic Planning and Membership; Sabine Verheyen, Member of the European Parliament; John Brown, Executive Board Member of eNACSO; Ambassador Sylvia Poll of Costa Rica; Sarah Taylor, Head of Creative Economy; and Bojana Lobe, Assistant Professor at the University of Ljubljana and EU Kids Online.
Speakers emphasized that children often do not understand the dangers of the internet until they become victims. They addressed the misuse of emerging technologies, including cyberbullying, grooming, exposure to inappropriate content, racism, hate speech, self‑harm material, adult pornography, and child exploitation. Their insights highlighted the need for stronger safeguards and better digital education.
Governments have begun implementing preventive measures to combat online abuse. In the United Kingdom, major internet service providers agreed to a filtering scheme expected to cover 95% of homes. Additional measures included new laws ensuring that videos streamed online are subject to the same restrictions as those sold in physical stores.
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The debate intensified as journalists questioned whether parents truly know what their children are doing online. The conference stressed that protecting children requires both tools and education. Parents and children must understand the risks and learn how to identify and respond to potential threats.
Experts such as Manuela Matra (European Commission), Lucy Woodward (The Walt Disney Company), Jacqueline Beauchere (Microsoft), and Tommaso Bertollotti (University of Pavia) contributed significantly to discussions on digital literacy, early education, and practical safety tools.
Although online dangers are difficult to detect due to the uncensored nature of the internet, progress has been made in tracking down offenders and bringing them to justice. Measures include software linked to children’s social network accounts, monitoring tools across platforms, and institutions dedicated to combating online exploitation.
The conference concluded with insights from Mr. Fred Langford (IWF), Jean‑Charles Schweitzer (European Cyber Crime Center), Erik Barnett (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and Uwe Manuel Rasmussen (Microsoft). They discussed global strategies to combat child abuse material and harmful online content. A moment of silence filled the hall when one speaker shared a powerful story of a child abuse case that ended with the perpetrators being successfully prosecuted.
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Reflecting on the event, participants were reminded of the shared responsibility in protecting children online. As Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, stated:
“It’s not just about protection through the action of others; it’s also about empowering kids to protect themselves. I am convinced we can create a better internet, one that is educational, safe, and fun, if we accept that protecting children is a shared responsibility. Children, parents, teachers, technology companies, and child welfare organizations all have a role to play.”