SIC-SPAIN 2.0, a European collaborative project for a safer Internet for Spanish children, has begun

The European project SIC- Spain 2.0 ‘Safer Internet Centre Spain 2.0’, led by INCIBE, began in January after the previous edition, SIC-Spain, ended in December.

This project has a budget of about 1.5 million euros: throughout 2021, it will continue with and expand upon the previous work carried out since the launch of the Spanish Safer Internet Centre (SIC), Safer Internet for Kids (IS4K), in February 2017. IS4K is the Safer Internet Centre for children in Spain, where children and their parents and educators are offered various cybersecurity awareness campaigns. INCIBE also offers a cybersecurity helpline, a free and confidential service, to advise on safe and responsible use of the Internet. Moreover, IS4K offers a line for reporting dangerous content, which contributes to protecting children online.

This European project has three objectives, namely: continuing with and enhancing generic services (awareness-raising, helpline and the channel for reporting dangerous content); attracting leading actors to join the consortium for awareness-raising campaigns; and strengthening the presence of the Spanish SIC (IS4K) in INHOPE, the international network of hotlines to contribute to the fight to eradicate child sexual abuse content on the Internet. 

Built on a public-private framework, the SIC-SPAIN 2.0 consortium, which is coordinated by INCIBE, will enhance and establish new relationships and will promote dialogue at the national level with key players in areas such as education, information and training of children and young people in appropriate and safer use of the Internet and technologies. On the other hand, it will focus on a new analysis, it will add the participation of young people’s platforms, awareness-raising and training programmes will be created for children, parents, educators, and tools will be developed to make the Internet safer for children. To do so, these actions will be implemented on a public platform by various organisations focused on awareness. INCIBE, as coordinator, alongside the Asociación de Usuarios de la Comunicación, Empantallados, Pantallas Amigas, the Fundación Cibervoluntarios, Gaptain, ICmedia, the Fundación Aprender a Mirar, Plataforma de Infancia, the Complutense University of Madrid, the University of the Basque Country and Rey Juan Carlos University.

Likewise, the project enjoys the collaboration of the National Institute of Educational Technologies and Teacher Training (INTEF) and the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD), as advisers. Also, Law Enforcement Agencies, the National Police and Civil Guard, which are part of the Ministry of the Interior, will actively participate as project partners and in coordination with the Spanish SIC (IS4K) to consolidate the reporting line, to receive reports of possible dangerous content on the Internet, and to remove it, an area for which this Ministry is responsible.

The operation of the helpline, as well as of the reporting line, will guide the design of specific awareness campaigns that will contribute to developing European Strategy capacities: Better Internet for Kids (BIK).

This project is co-funded by the European Union through the funding programme CEF-Telecom call CEF-TC-2020-1 - Safer Internet.