Annual meeting of the INSAFE network of European nations
working on the European Union Safer Internet Programme

Delegates ladies and gentlemen:
I want to start by welcoming you to Iceland, where I hope you will have a productive and enjoyable meeting on internet safety: sharing ideas and networking. I hope you will also have the opportunity to get to know Iceland a little on this visit – and experience Icelandic life and culture, now at the start of the Advent season. You will find a wide range of entertainment and activities here, while just a stone’s throw outside the city you can enjoy the peace and quiet of untouched nature. If you’re lucky you may even see the Aurora Borealis – the Northern Lights – in all their glory during the long winter nights.

I am honoured to be invited to address the annual meeting, now held in Iceland, of the INSAFE network of nearly 30 European nations, collaborating on internet safety within the European Union. The parents’ association Heimili og skóli (Home and School) deserve praise for their excellent work in promoting discussion and action to improve ethical standards on the internet, and internet safety for children.

SAFT or Society, Family, Technology – is an awareness campaign on internet safety for children and youngsters in Iceland. The project is one branch of the European Union Safer Internet Programme. SAFT in Iceland collaborates closely with about 30 other European countries which are participants in the programme. Each national programme works independently in its own country, while the international collaboration consists primarily of sharing knowledge and methodologies, thus creating a pool of knowledge and expertise on how best to enhance the safety of children and youngsters in their use of the internet and other new media – as witness the agenda of this meeting. The objective is to build up a collective store of knowledge and methodology in the field, which can support the positive aspects of information technology, while working to counteract the negative aspects. The Ministry of Education and Culture has been connected with the SAFT project, operated by Heimil og skóli, from its inception. A representative of the Ministry sits, for instance, on the project board, and has given good reports on the implementation of the project here in Iceland.

In Iceland SAFT is the coordinator of the Safer Internet Centre and runs an Awareness programme and a Helpline in collaboration with the Public Health Institute of Iceland, Capacent Gallup and the Post and Telecom Administration, and a Hotline in collaboration with Save the Children Iceland and the National Police.

Since 2004 Heimili og skóli has been at the forefront of safe use of the internet and other new media in Iceland, through its management of the SAFT project. Its unique role as a national association of parents provided SAFT project managers with the opportunity to effectively draw together parents, children, the school community and national authorities, and encourage a dialogue between all stakeholders on the importance of transparent communication, trust-building and preventive education, when it comes to internet and new media safety. By placing emphasis on positive messages and education rather than scare tactics, SAFT has also received recognition for “good practice” from key stakeholders in industry and government.

It goes without saying that the internet is a world of its own, where information can be accessed on any subject imaginable, in all fields of human life. Icelanders have, since the internet was in its infancy, been quick to adopt this new source of knowledge and communication medium, and today almost every Icelander has access to high-speed internet connections at school, at work and at home. Though barely into its teens, the internet has revolutionised methods used by people of all ages in acquiring and disseminating information, in play and human interaction, not least among the young, who are generally quicker to latch onto innovations than their elders.

The average internet user regularly checks for news on various news sites, uses the internet to gather or post information connected with work, and also uses the Net in connection with leisure pursuits, banking services, and increasingly for shopping and accessing services. The internet has become an indispensable aspect of the education of the young, from preschool to university and life-long learning, and internet-supported teaching has been widely adopted.

From what I have said, one might conclude that the internet is a phenomenon bathed in glory without blemish. But, like the real world, the virtual world has its sinister side. The power of the internet is, sadly, not used exclusively in a constructive, positive manner.  It is also used to disseminate evil propaganda, and to depict drugs and violence in a favourable light. Finally, the world of pornography has seized on the potential of the new medium to spread its sleaze. On the internet, inappropriate and offensive language is common, and on-line bullying is a growing problem. 

I feel it is of the utmost importance that both parents and schools join forces to teach children and youngsters to use the internet responsibly, and to build up ethical standards on the internet, and positive patterns of communication. It is necessary to make clear to children and youngsters, for instance, what the consequences may be of posting messages in offensive language, or indecent pictures, on the internet, and to teach them to discriminate between reliable information and propaganda. At the Ministry of Education we are now developing new curricula for pre-schools, primary and secondary schools, where literacy ‒ including media and information literacy – will be paramount.

In the home, too, certain guidelines must be established on internet use: for instance, how much time children are permitted to spend on-line at a time. And here the location of the computer in the home is an important factor. It is important for parents to know how their children are using the internet, and to explain to them the importance of using it responsibly. Filters can also be used to block children’s and youngsters’ access to certain material. But the crucial point is to bring up and educate critical internet users, who will apply the same principles of responsibility and ethics in their on-line interactions, as in the real world.

It is excellent that the nations of Europe have joined forces to encourage safe internet use, and the project’s mission statement is of great importance. The mission of the INSAFE cooperation network is to empower citizens to use the internet, as well as other information and communication technologies, safely and effectively. Together we can achieve great things in this field, and make a difference.

With the proposed actions, we will hopefully succeed here in Iceland in raising the level of awareness on the positive and negative aspects of the internet and other new media. By setting new objectives in our school curricula, which will be systematically introduced into the school system, it is my hope that we will be able to achieve enhanced awareness among the young users, and thus prepare them for a positive on-line experience. European cooperation in the context of the INSAFE network is an important factor in raising this awareness and attaining that goal.

Enjoy your day!