• Topic

    Civil rights and freedoms

    The digital environment provides unique opportunities for children to realize the right to access to information and freedom of expression. The digital environment can enable children to form their social, religious, cultural, ethnic, sexual and political identities and to participate in associated communities and in public spaces for deliberation, cultural exchange, social cohesion and diversity.

    The fulfilment of these rights must be ensured and the right of the child to freedom of thought, conscience and religion in the digital environment must be respected. Privacy is vital to children’s agency, dignity and safety and for the exercise of their rights.

    Children’s personal data are processed to offer educational, health and other benefits to them. Therefore, it must be ensured by legislative, administrative and other measures that children’s privacy is respected and protected by all organizations and in all environments that process their data.

    By use of digital identification systems that enable all newborn children to have their birth registered and officially recognized by the national authorities, access to services, including health, education and welfare shall be facilitated.

Current News

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EuroDIG: Human Rights in the Spotlight

The upcoming European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) will take place in Strasbourg, France, from 12 to 14 May. Under the overarching theme…

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Sexualised abuse: Study deemed EC proposal admissible

The study ‘Balancing the right to privacy with the children's right to protection from online sexual exploitation’ by terre des hommes Netherlands fin…

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Next Generation Age Verification!?

One year after the first Global Age Assurance Standards Summit, the crowd has gathered again for three days – this time in Amsterdam – to discuss…

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Considering children's rights in the design of Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds

On 31 March and 1 April, European Commission (EC) organized the Global Multistakeholder High-Level Conference on Governance of Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds in the framework of the Polish Presidency of the Council.

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Become a member of the EU Children’s Participation Plattform and strengthen the participation of children!

The EU Platform for Child Participation, launched by the Commission in 2022, is open to all European children and young people under the age of 18 who are participants in a member organisation. Read on to find out how you can become a member of the Platform for Child Participation and get more involved in (digital) children's and youth issues.

Considering children's rights in the domain name system

Over the past few days, the multi-stakeholder community has been discussing current issues relating to the further development and shaping of the Domain Name System at the ICANN 82 Community Forum in Seattle (USA).

Young and social media savvy - new findings on media use among Europeans

Under the title “Media consumption habits of young people in Europe” the media habits of young people were discussed, delving into the implication of these habits for the competitiveness of the EU audiovisual industry, as well as the outlook for cultural diversity in European media.

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IGF 2025: Building Digital Governance Together – Call for Session Proposals

Norway will host the 20th United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) from 23 to 27 June 2025. In this anniversary year, participants from the stakeholder groups government, private sector, technical community, intergovernmental organisations and civil society will come together in Lillestrom near Oslo to discuss current issues relating to the governance and regulation of the digital environment under the motto ‘Building Digital Governance Together’.

Advice, support and technology against sexualised violence online

Children and young people encounter sexualised violence in various forms on the internet. Keeping them away from (allegedly) age-inappropriate content has been an ambivalent goal of youth media protection, which has been pursued with various measures since the beginning of the spread of the Internet. Today, the main aim is to effectively counter the risks that can arise from communication and exchange with other users.

Safer Internet Day 2025 – “No Likes for Lies”

Safer Internet Day (SID) is a global day of action to promote online safety and a better internet for children and young people. It is dedicated to a different theme every year and has been held on the Tuesday of the second week of February since 2004. Safer Internet Day will take place for the 22nd time on 11 February 2025.