The UK Council for Child Internet Safety

Henry Watson

Child Safety Unit, Department for Education

Today …

History

Problems and solutions

Way ahead

History of UKCCIS

The review was commissioned in 2007

Led by clinical psychologist Professor Tanya Byron

Published in March 2008

UKCCIS officially launched on 29 September 2008 and now has over 170 members, e.g. BT, Microsoft, NSPCC, Ofcom

First strategy published on 8 December 2009 at the Child Internet Safety Summit hosted by the then Prime Minister

Review of progress by Professor Byron in March 2010

Content

– Inappropriate and harmful material

Conduct

– Bullying

– Sexual messages

Contact

– People who shouldn’t be contacting children

Professor Byron’s 2008 review: What’s the problem?

Cyberbullying

'the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), particularly mobile phones and the internet, deliberately to upset someone else' (Safe to Learn 2007)

19% of 12 -17 year olds have experienced forms of cyber-bullying (2009 Staying Safe Survey)

Hurtful messages, the most common form of online bullying in Europe (Risks and safety on the Internet 2010, LSE/EU). 4% of 14-16 year olds experienced this in the last 12 months.

Improving good practice guidance for industry in moderating services used by children, which we are revising

Responding to cyberbullying (in England!)Reviewing Legal consequencesIncreasing Powers to Head TeachersBetter Schools Inspection

What do we not know

• There is very little evidence on the links between using more portable devices and how this may increase online risks

• There is very little research on the online risks faced by younger age groups accessing the internet, particularly those aged 5-7

• More evidence is needed to quantify the extent to which children encounter online risks, rather than just focusing on young people’s and adults’ perceptions of such risks

• More research is needed to explore what specific strategies work best in ensuring that young people use the internet safely

Professor Byron’s 2008 review: What are the answers?

UKCCIS:Co-operative

working between the Government, industry and the

third sector

Reduce availability

Restrict access

Increase resilience

Culture of responsibility

leading to improved online safety

The review discussed the extraordinary opportunities of new technologies; parents’ general lack of confidence and awareness; and how parents need the right support to engage with their children and make them safe.

Key Priorities

•Self-regulation

•Education

•Awareness-raising

UKCCIS Strategy: Click Clever, Click Safe (2009)T

hre

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tran

ds

Creating a safer online environment

Deliverables: guidance, industry self-regulation,BSI Kitemark, parental controls

Giving skills, knowledge and understanding to help children and young people stay safe online

Deliverables: curriculum and resources, e.g. Know IT All

Inspiring safe and responsible use & behaviour

Deliverables: proactive campaigns by government departments and others, and the CEOP one stop shop

UKCCIS priorities: a summary

Whilst individuals need to take responsibility for their own online behaviour, they need support and tools.

Resources for schools

Resources and training for the children’s workforce

Awareness and information embedded: retailers, social networking sites, handset

manufacturers, videogames etc

One stop shop website

Self-regulation

Guidance

Parental controls (incl. Kitemark)

A society where everybody has the skills, knowledge and understanding to help keep children and young people safe

online

A safer digital world for children and young people

A safer Online Environment

Coalition Government

New Ministers:

- Tim Loughton, DfE- James Brokenshire, Home Office- Ed Vaizey, DCMS/BIS

Three meetings of UKCCIS Executive Board:

- results which are tangible and visible- working in partnership- Prime Minister

Priorities

Engaging parents and children

Vulnerable groups and underage

children on SNS

Resources for schools and wider children’s

workforce

Parental controls and

age verification

Embedding“Zip it, Block it,

Flag it”

Looking forward…

Forging strongerlinks with e.g.

Race Online 2012

Further development of One Stop Shop

Information at point of sale

The Click Clever, Click Safe code