Photograph: Design Pics Inc/Rex Features
The National Safe Internet Center (NSIC) has a renewed consortium of organizations that will carry out the activities necessary for the functioning of the “Digital Children” project. Parents Association, which was one of the founders of the Center in 2005, is the main coordinator, and the implementation of the Center’s activities will be supported by the Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association for (BFPA) and the National Children’s Network (NNC).
The work of NSIC in the next 18 months will continue thanks to attracted funding from the European Union. The center receives funds under the Digital Europe Program of the European Health and Digitization Executive Agency (HaDEA) to support the work of the Illegal Content Hotline and the Child Online Safety Advisory Line 124 123 as well as prevention and training activities of the Center.
In the past year (2023), the NCBI processed a record 46,000 reports, 95% of which related to online sexual exploitation of children. Against the background of these statistics, Bulgaria continues to be one of the few countries in the EU that does not provide national funding for the only structure of its kind for the protection and support of Bulgarian children in the online space, although in practice the Center fulfills Bulgaria’s state policy and commitments on several EU Directives and Conventions.
In this sense, the funding from the EU literally saves the work of the Center.
For years, our state institutions have been transferring responsibility without finding a lasting solution for his support. It is periodically necessary to support its activities with donations from citizens and support from Bulgarian business.
The money from the “Digital Europe” program covers half of the necessary funding for all activities, and the Center will again be forced to rely on donations if the state does not find money for the necessary additional funding for the online protection of children.
NCBI (www.safenet.bg) maintains the Hotline for reporting harmful content and online crimes against children. Signals received by children and parents are processed and forwarded to the Directorate “Cybercrime” at GDBOP, of which the Center is a trusted partner, as well as to the other Safe Internet Centers in the EU.
NSICBI also manages the Helpline 124 123 for children and parents, as well as a chat for it. Last year, in 60% of cases, parents sought help by phone, and more men (fathers). A quarter of the calls are related to prevention – parents asking how to protect their children and how to develop their skills in the digital space. The other consultations are mostly about reporting harmful content, online harassment, scams and threats, cracked and fake profiles and technical issues.
The national center also implements educational activities for children, young people, parents and teachers in the country. The trainings are adapted to the age group of the students and cover topics such as safe use of the Internet, how to recognize online bullying, what to do in case of abuse, which are the most risky situations and behaviors in an online environment, etc. On the website of the Center www.safenet.bg, many resources for children and adults can be found on digital literacy, safe behavior on the Internet, protection, reaction to a problem, etc.
With the funding under the “Digital Children” project, NCBI will not only continue the activities of the National Telephone Line 124 123 and the Hotline, but will also strengthen its training activities on digital media literacy in the country. The center will conduct more trainings for parents and teachers. Child-oriented educational initiatives will be implemented through trained youth, including from vulnerable groups. All activities will aim to reach a significant number of children in the country, especially those with limited access to education and information about the dangers in the digital space. Within the project, NSIC will train teachers, pedagogical advisors, school psychologists, social workers, health mediators and pediatricians and other professionals who work with children.
In the coming months, the organizations will also work on an analysis of the national legal framework and regulatory gaps that make it difficult to prevent, detect and punish online crimes against children. Recommendations for procedural and legal amendments will be prepared, in the discussion of which the responsible institutions will be involved, including Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, State Agency for Child Protection, etc. With this part of the activities of the project, specific actions of the state will be sought in the prevention and adequate response to online crimes against children in our country.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor HaDEA can be held responsible for them.
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