Session
Description:
As increasing numbers of countries introduce legislation (including various forms of age-based restrictions) aimed at protecting children online, this session will consider effective ways to protect and empower young people, while also exploring whether new regulation or better enforcement of existing legislation is needed. Organised by European Schoolnet as part of its work on the European Commission’s Better Internet for Kids platform initiative – available at www.betterinternetforkids.eu – this panel will consider what role international approaches should play and how they can guide the development of child-centred and rights-respecting digital services. How can the principle of safety-by-design be translated into concrete obligations for online platforms, app stores, AI and gaming environments? Much attention is being paid to social media platforms, but more consideration is perhaps needed in other online spaces that young people are using? Particular attention will be paid to a recent report from the co-chairs of the European Commission’s Special Panel on child safety online, which supports a gradual approach towards the autonomous use of age-appropriate social media and other digital services. Following a number of brief expert presentations from across the world, small groups will consider a range of questions: • What should evolving autonomy look like? • What are the implications for vulnerable groups? • How can we protect young people online while also ensuring their empowerment across a range of online environments? • How can governments, industry and civil society ensure that children’s voices genuinely influence the design, implementation and evaluation of online safety measures? • How should we address the circumvention of protective measures which may lead minors to move towards less regulated and less protected online spaces?
As increasing numbers of countries introduce legislation (including various forms of age-based restrictions) aimed at protecting children online, this session will consider effective ways to protect and empower young people, while also exploring whether new regulation or better enforcement of existing legislation is needed. Organised by European Schoolnet as part of its work on the European Commission’s Better Internet for Kids platform initiative – available at www.betterinternetforkids.eu – this panel will consider what role international approaches should play and how they can guide the development of child-centred and rights-respecting digital services. How can the principle of safety-by-design be translated into concrete obligations for online platforms, app stores, AI and gaming environments? Much attention is being paid to social media platforms, but more consideration is perhaps needed in other online spaces that young people are using? Particular attention will be paid to a recent report from the co-chairs of the European Commission’s Special Panel on child safety online, which supports a gradual approach towards the autonomous use of age-appropriate social media and other digital services. Following a number of brief expert presentations from across the world, small groups will consider a range of questions: • What should evolving autonomy look like? • What are the implications for vulnerable groups? • How can we protect young people online while also ensuring their empowerment across a range of online environments? • How can governments, industry and civil society ensure that children’s voices genuinely influence the design, implementation and evaluation of online safety measures? • How should we address the circumvention of protective measures which may lead minors to move towards less regulated and less protected online spaces?
Policy Question(s)
A. What evidence do we have about the efficacy of age-based restrictions of social media and other digital services and how important is a regional/global approach to the problem?
B. How can we ensure that children’s rights are respected when protecting them from harmful and illegal content online?
C. How can we ensure that young people are involved in developing “safe by default” approaches rather than having “solutions” imposed on them?
Expected Outcomes
Expected outcomes:
• To consider the EU approach to protecting and empowering minors in a digital world and compare it with similar or different developments in other parts of the world.
• To identify the features of an effective child online protection strategy, and consider what is needed to ensure this is successful.
• To identify the role of different stakeholders.
Specific output: on the basis of the IGF workshop, a report will be prepared and published as part of the 2027 Safer Internet Day campaign - see https://better-internet-for-kids.europa.eu/en/saferinternetday.
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: The roundtable set-up will allow for a more interactive format, with both onsite and online participants being able to share and discuss their thoughts, ideas and experiences following the initial input from expert speakers, including youth.
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: The roundtable set-up will allow for a more interactive format, with both onsite and online participants being able to share and discuss their thoughts, ideas and experiences following the initial input from expert speakers, including youth.
Hybrid Format: One on-site moderator and two online moderators will facilitate the workshop, ensuring balanced participation from on-site and remote attendees.
Alongside onsite presenters, a particular emphasis will be given to the voice of young people. For this, an international youth panel with 10 representatives (age 12-18) from across the world will be recruited and prepared to take part remotely in the workshop, in line with ongoing work on the Better Internet for Kids youth programme – see https://better-internet-for-kids.europa.eu/en/bik-youth.
Online moderators will relay questions and comments to the on-site moderator, support online speakers where relevant, and share useful links in the chat to encourage a dynamic discussion.
Dedicated hashtags, alongside the IGF conference hashtags, will be announced at the start of the session to support social media sharing. Participants will be encouraged to use them to share comments, feedback and reflections with the wider IGF community and beyond.
Organizer 1: Hans Martens, EUN
Speaker 1: Robbert Hoving, Intergovernmental Organization, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: Lillian Kariuki, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 3: Torsten Krause, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 4: AMANDA THIRD, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Lillian Kariuki, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 3: Torsten Krause, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 4: AMANDA THIRD, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Moderator
Hans Martens, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Online Moderator
Sarah Willoughby, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Rapporteur
Hans Martens, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
What will participants gain from attending this session?
