The 'e-safety' campaign, being launched later this summer, is part of an action plan implementing recommendations made in the Byron Review on improving children's safety when they play video games and go online (News, 2 April)
The UK Council for Child Internet Safety is to start work in September. It will be chaired by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Home Office
Ministers will write to representatives from the ICT industry, law enforcement and the voluntary sector this month, inviting them to sit on the board
One of the council's first tasks will be to develop a Child Internet Safety Strategy by spring 2009
Minister for children and families Kevin Brennan said, 'Internet and video games are an everyday part of many young people's lives. Enjoying the benefits should come hand in hand with managing risks
'Our commitment to deliver the action plan ahead of time will help to continue the momentum Dr Byron set to empower parents and protect children in tackling the harms associated with internet and video games.
Dr Tanya Byron's review also called for changes to the age-based classification of computer games to make it less confusing for parents
Later this month the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will carry out a four-month public consultation on how to reform the video games classification system.