Council set up to keep kids safe online
Government initiative to protect young web surfers
29 September 2008 12:54 GMT / By Katie Scott
The government has launched a new council that is hoped will help protect children when they are online.
The UK Council for Child Internet Safety is to be launched by Schools Secretary Ed Balls and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
Its creation follows on from recommendations made by Dr Tanya Byron, which were published in The Byron Report, earlier this year.
Around 100 organisations will be members of the council, including Microsoft and Google, websites such as Facebook and mobile phone companies including O2.
The Council's main objective will be to be set up a voluntary create codes of practice for websites to sign up to protect children from "illegal internet sites that promote harmful behaviour" and it will also address issues such as online bullying.
The Council, which will report directly to the Prime Minister, will also monitor online advertising and will go after websites it claims has "harmful" content.
Dr Byron commented on news of the launch: "Every parent will know that video games and the internet are a part of childhood like never before".
"This is extremely positive; giving kids the opportunities to learn to have fun and communicate in ways that previous generations could only dream of. But it can also present a huge challenge to parents and other adults involved in the welfare of children."
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