• 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

[Translate to Englisch:]

IGF 2023: Children’s and young people’s rights

The 18th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) meeting will be hosted by the Government of Japan in Kyoto in a hybrid format from 8 to 12 October 2023. We have put together a list of the sessions that will cover aspects of children and young people growing up in a digital environment.

[Translate to Englisch:] Ansicht: Digitale Nachhaltigkeit im Fokus

Focus on digital sustainability

In mid-September, the Internet Governance Forum Germany (IGF-D) will take place for the 14th time.

Enforcing children's rights in digital services

The BMDV has presented a bill for the implementation of the DSA and asked for comments. The Digital Opportunities Foundation welcomes the planned establishment of an independent authority for the enforcement of children's rights in digital services as well as the intended establishment of an advisory board to advise and accompany the work of the Digital Services Coordinator. This should include a children's rights representative. In addition, opportunities for participation that are lost in the future must be compensated for by new opportunities for participation.

[Translate to Englisch:] Ansicht: Eine kinderrechtliche Perspektive auf die Begrenzung der Bildschirmzeit von Kindern und Jugendlichen

Crafting of the Code of Conduct on age-appropriate design kicks off

The Special Group for the development of a Code of Conduct for age-appropriate design convenes for its first meeting on July 13, 2023 and started its activities. An important step under the Better Internet for Kids Strategy (BIK+)

[Translate to Englisch:] Ansicht: UNICEF Jahresbericht 2022

UNICEF 2022 Annual Report

UNICEF published an annual report documenting their work and their achievements in 2022.

[Translate to Englisch:] Ansicht: 4. BIK Policy Karte

4. BIK Policy Map

The Better Internet for Kids (BIK) Map was created to compare and exchange knowledge on policy making and implementation in EU Member States on the themes and recommendations of the European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children. The fourth report of the series was released in May 2023.

Ansicht: Aufruf zur Beteiligung am Programm des IGF 2023

IGF 2023 Call for Session Proposals

Stakeholders are invited to submit proposals to organize various types of sessions at the Internet Governance Forum until May 19, 2023 at 23:59 UTC

Ansicht: Kinderrechte stehen im Vordergrund der Einreichungen für das Programm des IGF 2023

Children’s Rights feature prominently in submissions for the IGF 2023 program

Each year, the thematic focus of the IGF is determined by the community in a joint survey. Children’s Rights featured prominently in submissions for the IGF 2023 program

[Translate to Englisch:] Ansicht: IGF-Botschaften 2022 und Aufruf für thematischen Beiträgen 2023

IGF Messages 2022 and Call for Thematic Inputs 2023

The IGF Secretariat has issued a Call for Thematic Inputs for the IGF 2023 that is still open until Tuesday, 31.01.2023 and published messages from the IGF 2022

Ansicht: Berichterstattung von dem Internet Governance Forum 2022

Coverage of the Internet Governance Forum 2022

Summary of IGF materials: daily reports, interview with Jutta Croll, and session recordings.