Network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs)

• Fully functional national SICs delivering the four core services: awareness centre, helpline, CSAM hotline and youth panel.
• Production and widespread dissemination of localised, age-appropriate resources and campaigns increasing awareness of online risks and opportunities among children, carers and educators.
• Enhanced support to children and families via the helpline, including mental health assistance for exposure to violent or pornographic content and strengthened cyberbullying victim support.
• Efficient, anonymous reporting, analysis and removal of online CSAM, with closer ties to law enforcement, private platforms and formal “trusted flagger” status.
• Active youth panels informing SIC strategy, reflecting diverse demographic inputs and fostering digital citizenship.
• Targeted outreach and training reducing the digital divide for vulnerable groups, ensuring no child is left behind.
• Measurable improvements in children’s media literacy, resilience and well-being, monitored in cooperation with the BIK platform.
• Implementation of EU digital child safety legislation and strategies at national level, including support for the DSA enforcement and DSC activities via systematic data provision.
• Strengthened networks between SICs, public authorities, platforms and educators, leading to more rapid identification and mitigation of emerging online risks.
• Sustainable national peer-to-peer and professional training ecosystems (including MOOCs and BIK Youth Ambassador programmes) promoting long-term digital safety and rights awareness.
• A one-stop, trusted information hub facilitating access to age-appropriate digital safety resources and reporting pathways for all stakeholders.

1. Establish and maintain the four mandatory SIC pillars (awareness centre, helpline, CSAM hotline, youth panel) at national level. 2. Address both specific/general known risks (illegal content, cyberbullying, addictive design, disinformation) and emerging risks (new apps/trends, AI-generated pornographic/violent content, XR, IoT). 3. Provide mental and physical health support related to digital use (self-harm, eating disorders, social isolation). 4. Support vulnerable and disadvantaged children (disabilities, minorities, refugees, LGBTQI+, low socio-economic backgrounds) via targeted non-formal education and training to bridge the digital divide. 5. Ensure youth panels have adequate turnover, geographic balance and open participant selection. 6. Cooperate closely with the national Child Helpline 116111 for the helpline and with law enforcement and private sector for the CSAM hotline. 7. Contribute to DSA enforcement by assisting the Commission and national Digital Services Coordinators through systematic data collection. 8. Roll out EU-aligned training modules (MOOCs) for educators and expand BIK Youth Ambassador/Panel peer-to-peer activities. 9. Act as a central hub for age-appropriate information, digital literacy training, professional capacity building, early risk detection and stakeholder communication. 10. Collaborate with online platforms (including as “trusted flaggers”) to facilitate takedown of harmful and illegal content.