András Koltay, President of the Roundtable and Monika Karas, President of the NMHH and the Media Council | Phot credit: Gábor Sebestyén

The Internet Roundtable for Child Protection is intended to foster the protection of minors on the internet and support the efforts of the National Media and Infocommunications Authority as an advisory body. President of the NMHH Monika Karas has appointed two members and the President of the body based on her own nomination, eight members each based on the nominations of child protection and online market trade associations, two based on the recommendation of the Ministry of National Development in charge of IT under the powers granted by Section 4 of Act CVIII of 2001 on Certain Issues of Electronic Commerce Services and Information Society Services.

The panel will also have powers to examine individual cases. Anyone who encounters a breach of child protection considerations by content providers through the dissemination of information that may severely impair the mental or psychological development of minors by portraying cruel violence or explicit sexual content is encouraged to contact the Roundtable.

The body will draw up recommendations and position papers for online market players, particularly geared towards promoting the use of filter software. Roundtable members will also seek initiatives aimed at reinforcing media awareness among children and parents. The body is not bestowed with powers to craft mandatory legislation, but it can become a key player in media regulation through self-regulation and the promotion of best practices.

The National Media and Infocommunications Authority’s Media Council proposed the establishment of the Roundtable in a concept on the topic of child-friendly online content regulation. Monika Karas has appointed Media Council member András Koltay as President of the Roundtable. The President and twenty members are appointed for a three-year mandate and will not receive any remuneration for their work.

Composition of the Internet Roundtable for Child Protection

President:

• András Koltay, member of the Media Council

Members delegated by the NMHH:

• Ágnes Vass, member of the Media Council
• Ildikó Kónya Váradi, staff member of the NMHH’s Regulatory Directorate

Members delegated based on the recommendation of the Ministry of National Development in charge of IT:

• Gábor Csiszér, counsel
• Beáta Tóth

Members delegated based on the recommendations of child protection organisations (name of the nominating organisation in parentheses):

• Vera Alpár (Gyermekmédia Közhasznú Egyesület),
• dr. Baracsi Katalin (Catholic Youth and Adult Education Association; Hungarian Association of Law and Political Sciences),
• dr. Jenő Kutassy (National Association of Large Families),
• Zsuzsanna M. Matusek (Országos Gyermekvédő Liga),
• György Mikesy (Cházár András Egységes Gyógypedagógiai Módszertani Központ, Diákotthon és Gyermekotthon),
• Róbert Pintér (Egyszer Volt A Gyermekkultúráért Alapítvány),
• Zoltán Sterner (International Children's Safety Service, Hungarian Association),
• Ágnes Pesty Turóczi (Öveges József Tanáregylet; Szívvel és Lélekkel Óvodapedagógusok Egyesülete; Tanítók Fekete István Egyesülete; Történelmi Egyházak Közoktatási Intézményvezetőinek Országos Egyesülete; Sík Sándor Tanáregylet).

Members delegated based on the recommendations of service provider interest groups and self-regulatory organisations (name of the nominating organisation in parentheses):

• dr. Magdolna Csömör (Communications Reconciliation Council),
• dr. Zsuzsa Detrekői (Association of Hungarian Content Providers),
• Lilla Hargitai (Média Unió a Társadalmi Tudatformálásért Közhasznú Alapítvány),
• dr. Erika Mayer (Council of Hungarian Internet Providers; Hungarian Association of Content Industry),
• dr. Tibor Németh (Association of the Hungarian Electronic Broadcasters),
• Orsolya Nyilas (ICT Association of Hungary),
• dr. Ilona Pócsik (Advertising Self-Regulatory Board; International Advertising Association; Médiasmart Association),
• dr. Zsuzsanna Szilágyi (Hungarian Publishers' Association)