After the European elections last year, during these January days when temperatures are quite low in Brussels, the atmosphere among the commissioner-designates and their staff, Members of the European Parliament and the political public is becoming overheated. At first we were witness to a very wide range of atmospheres during hearings, ranging from relaxed to uncomfortable; both for candidates and for the audience alike. The speeches and answers of commissioners–designate often emphasised the common values of the European Union. So, what are these exactly?

They are listed in the first paragraph of the Lisbon Treaty and in the preamble to the Treaty. Freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, respect for human dignity, non-discrimination, pluralism, tolerance, justice, solidarity and security. Security, that is, in all of its forms – climate security, energy security, environmental security and personal security. During a heated debate about personal security, Viviane Reding, the EU commissioner-designate for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship, advocated the strengthening of privacy. She is, for example, opposed to the use of body scanners at airports. Viviane Reding is definitely a woman who, as a previous commissioner for information society, knows both the opportunities and the dangers that new technologies present. New technologies bring new challenges. Communication technology, in the form of blogs, facebook, twitter and other social networks, offer people the opportunity to share photos, videos and even advice, on anything from recipes to political issues.

It goes without saying that information and communication technology offers better opportunities for working, finding information and even for social interaction. It is hard to deny that we are social beings indeed. It is, however, also evident that privacy is becoming more and more restricted. Indeed, claims about this are not coming only from different public institutions. Nowadays, we have become so inattentive that it is not difficult to find traces of this everywhere.

The European Union is here to protect us; adults and children alike. The Guidelines of the Safer Internet programme, which runs for a five year period from 2009 to 2013, promote safer use of the Internet and other communication technologies in two ways: The first is by educating the users, particularly children, parents and caretakers in these matters, and the second is by fighting against illegal content and harmful conduct online.

The available data, however, is not encouraging. Last year’s statistics show that safety on the internet is not a major concern for parents of children aged from 5 to 17, compared with other concerns in relation to the safety of their children. Of significantly greater concern for parents are bullying, strangers and paedophiles, to name a few examples. There is also a very low percentage of children aged 12 to 17 who say that using the internet could be dangerous in any way at all. When parents and children finally do focus specifically on safety and internet use, the results are much better and more of them express at least some concerns.

As European citizens, this places a responsibility on our shoulders. Responsibility, alongside safety and privacy, is one of the most important values of the EU. Of course, rules should exist to protect citizens on the European, national and international level, in order to ensure that our safety and privacy are guaranteed while we use all forms of communication technology. But we should also fight against the harmful influences of new technologies in our hands, by how we ourselves use them. At present it is of the utmost importance that the European Union continues to support and promote projects that ensure greater awareness on the part of adults and children of the potentially harmful effects that the use of new technologies might bring.

I agree with those who say that there are moral and ethical issues concerning the loss of online privacy and that we may have lost some privacy by embracing the advancement of technology, but what we have gained from it, as individuals and as a society as a whole, is worth much, much more.

Of course, it will not be acceptable for a young girl or boy to complain to his or her parents: “Why did you not stop me from sharing my crazy photos on facebook with others? Now I have to explain them at my first job interview! Oh, my God!” My dear reader, think about this! It is a real example which encouraged me to share my thoughts with you.