The system of ”regulated self-regulation”

The system of ”regulated self-regulation" is valid in the area of youth protection in online media since April 2003 and arranges a cooperation in youth protection in media of state and industry. This means that the state creates the legal framework and the according structures. Providers can fill this framework on their own authority while the state is able to avoid erroneous trends through a proper political frame and adequate monitoring facilities.

Affected by internationality and fast changes of contents, especially the internet cannot abdicate a system like ”regulated self-regulation" by the providers. Self-regulation can react to changes more flexibly and faster than the state can by its monitoring and legislative solutions through complex elaboration of acts. Apart from adapting to the changing ideals and moral concepts of society, a continuous adjustment towards technical development is required. As technical standards in economy are mostly higher than those of state agencies, faster actions are possible. Furthermore, these aspects gain more and more in importance because of the vitality of the developments in media. Additionally, another significant advantage of self-regulation over state monitoring is the international network. An action against legal violations can be effected much faster by transnational collaborations of complaint agencies - particularly in an international medium like internet, than it could be effected by formal and long processes of administrative assistance. Last but not least, the system of self-regulation means a considerable relief for the state.