Swedish Safer Internet Centre

Sweden's Safer Internet Centre, SIC Sweden, is operated by the government agency Statens medieråd (the Swedish Media Council) and the NGO Bris (Children's Rights in Society). SIC Sweden consists of two parts: an awareness centre, operated by the Swedish Media Council, and a helpline, run by Bris. The awareness centre works preventively, by providing knowledge and information to professionals and guardians. The helpline provides support to children and young people. Children and young people are involved in the work of SIC Sweden in different ways, for example as informants and youth panellists. SIC Sweden’s overall goal is to increase children’s online safety.

Description:

The awareness centre produces reports and educational tools, collaborates with national and international actors, develops methods to increase children's participation and influence, and arranges events and campaigns.

The primary task of the Swedish Media Council is to empower minors as conscious media users and to protect them from harmful media influences. The agency also coordinates the national effort for strengthened media and information literacy (MIL) in the general population. 

Description:

The national helpline for children is a general helpline offering information and support to children within a range of issues, including online-related questions and concerns. Support is provided via phone (116 111), email and chat. The helpline is open 24/7 and is staffed by professional counsellors. There is also a helpline for adults who have questions and concerns about children.

Both helplines are operated by Bris (Children's Rights in Society), an NGO aiming to strengthen the rights of the child through support to children and parents; mobilising the society and advocacy work.

Description:

At present, SIC Sweden does not include a hotline. However, a hotline function is provided in Sweden by the children's rights organisation ECPAT Sweden. ECPAT Sweden, which is an INHOPE member, provides a hotline where the public can report all suspected sexual exploitation of children and child sexual abuse material (CSAM).