The Internet is a space of freedom, but must also be a space of responsability. This was one of the key messages delivered by the Council of Europe at the opening session of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

Representing the incoming Swiss Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, Moritz Leuenberger, Minister for the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication of Switzerland, said that "freedom should only be restricted where this is necessary to protect the freedom of others". He underlined that the Council of Europe is doing this by developing international conventions and non-binding recommendations and standards.

He supported a multi-stakeholder approach to Internet governance and pointed out that facilitating access to the Internet must be a fundamental priority.  In  his stament he pointed to the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 and the birth of the World Wide Web a few years later as milestones on the path to greater freedom in the world.

Jozsef Györkös, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Slovenia, representing the current Slovenian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, said the Council of Europe fully supports the IGF process, "in particular as a space that promotes transparency and participation" and as a means to promote the core values of the Council of Europe: human rights, the rule of law and democracy.

He stressed that the Council of Europe supports an approach to Internet governance based on rights, multistakeholder dialogue and its  public service dimension.  He pointed out that the Council has already responded to some of the challenges created by the Internet through conventions such as those on cybercrime, data protection, terrorism and the protection of children against sexual exploitation and abuse - or a new convention on counterfeit medical products, which is expected to be opened for signature in 2010. (more ...)

Wild Web Woods: safe surfing on the Internet The game 'Wild Web Woods' has been developed to help children learn the rules of internet safety in a fun format, using familiar fairy tales to guide children through a maze of potential dangers to the fabulous 'E-city.' The game, mainly for children between 7 and 10, has been created in the spirit of the Council’s 'Building a Europe for and with children' programme. (more...) Game (20 language versions)