Parental control of television broadcasting

The committee adopted the report by Roberta ANGELILLI (UEN, I) on the Commission communication on parental control of television broadcasting. The committee believed that measures to protect young people from violent and other harmful material should not be confined to conventional television but should include all types of multimedia channels. It called for more teaching of media skills to children and for television filtering devices to be made available at a price which was affordable to all. At the same time it stressed that the availability of filter systems must not be used by the media and service providers as an excuse to duck their responsibilities for the content they supply. As questions pertaining to radio and television fall within the competence of the Member States, the latter and the Commission were asked to underline, in any legislation, the responsibilities incumbent upon media companies. In addition, all television operators in the EU were urged to agree a self-regulation code for the protection of minors.