• 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

One for all – all for one: In the best interest of the child

Day Zero of the IGF 2025 startet with an opening key note by Karianne Tung, Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance Norway stating that the Norwegian Government sees the IGF as a key part of the UN role in responsible human centric digital development. The questions addressed in the following five days are «about our lives and our common future», she said, demanding to build »a digital world that works for everyone ».

[Translate to Englisch:]

ICANN Policy Forum met in Prague

From 9 to 12 June, the Internet community came together in Prague, Czech Republic, to discuss current processes and developments for guaranteeing the…

Children's Rights at IGF 2025

Norway is hosting the 20th United Nations Internet Governance Forum(IGF). This will take place from 23 to 27 June in Lillestrom near Oslo.

Age assurance must not result in exclusions

On the last day of the European Dialogue on Internet Regulation, the focus was on age verification. During the main event, The Age Verification…

Preventing discrimination and protecting data

On the second day of the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) conference in Strasbourg, France, the focus was on the links between artificial intelligence and discrimination, and the impact of neurotechnologies on privacy.

Promoting innovation and trust through regulation

The European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) was launched in Strasbourg, France, on Monday 12 May. Under the motto "Safeguarding human rights by balancing regulation and innovation", more than 700 representatives from politics, business, civil society, science and technology will discuss current internet developments in a hybrid process until Wednesday 14 May.

[Translate to Englisch:]

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 ‘Safeguarding human rights by balancing regulation and innovation’, representatives of politics, private sector, civil society, academia and technical community will come together to discuss current developments and network. The hybrid event is being hosted by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Luxembourg Presidency. Registration for participation is still possible until 6 May.

[Translate to Englisch:]

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…

[Translate to Englisch:]

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…

[Translate to Englisch:]

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.