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COE Recommendations to protect human rights on search engines and social networks

posted on 16 April, 2012   (public)

The Council of Europe adopted two Recommendations on the protection of human rights, notably freedom of expression, access to information and the right to private life, with regard to search engines and social networking services on 4 April 2012.

The Committee of Ministers calls on member states to engage with operators to enhance transparency and respect for users’ rights in the processing of personal data.

In the Recommendation on social networking services, the Committee of Ministers’ calls on member states to work with operators to raise users' awareness of their rights and the challenges to them, by using clear and understandable language. The Recommendation contains a number of actions to protect children and young people against harmful content and behaviour, such as the setting up of easily accessible mechanisms for reporting inappropriate content or behaviour.

Recommendation on the protection of human rights with regard to search engines

Recommendation on the protection of human rights with regard to social networking services