• Topic

    Special Protection

    Children should be protected from all forms of exploitation prejudicial to any aspects of their welfare in relation to the digital environment.Exploitation may occur in many forms, such as economic exploitation, including child labour, sexual exploitation and abuse, the sale, trafficking and abduction of children and the recruitment of children to participate in criminal activities, including forms of cybercrime.

    By creating and sharing content, children may be economic actors in the digital environment, which may result in their exploitation.

Current news

Commission launches the Network for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse

The European Commission has formally adopted the Decision to launch the Network for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse. This new expert group will bring together policymakers, experts, and practitioners to address the prevention of sexualized violence against children and young people, both online and offline. Its establishment marks an important milestone in child protection in the EU.

[Translate to Englisch:]

Sexual violence against children online: numbers rising dramatically

More and more children and young people are being exposed to sexual violence on the internet. The latest figures from the 2024 German Police Crime Statistics (PKS) and new analyses by the Independent Commissioner for Child Sexual Abuse Issues (UBSKM) and jugendschutz.net show that the extent and forms of digital sexual violence continue to increase. You can read more about this topic in this article.

Ansicht: Wir feiern: Kinderrechte gelten auch in der digitalen Welt!

"Children are not content": the responsible use of children's images online

During the summer holidays, families spend time together and create many special memories, whether they're swimming, playing games or eating ice cream. These memories are invaluable to caregivers and relatives alike. However, sharing images of children on social networks can pose risks.

It's not about age, is it?

When age verification is discussed at a conference on trust and safety on the Internet, it is easy to assume that the confidentiality of the data used in such procedures is the issue. Surprisingly, however, the focus at TrustCon is much more on the contribution that age verification can make to a safe and age-appropriate online experience for minors.

[Translate to Englisch:]

We need to talk – with the children! New approaches to regulation in youth media protection

On the second and third days of TrustCon, the focus was on procedures for assessing the impact on children's rights (Child Rights Impact Assessment) and regulatory sandboxes.

It’s all about Children!

We are the new kids on the block taking part for the first time in TrustCon, an international conference on trust and safety in the digital world. And we are excited how prominently children’s best interest in the digital environment features among this highly technology oriented crowd.

[Translate to Englisch:]

Germany Takes Action Against Child Sexual Abuse: New Law Strengthens Protection for Children and Youth and Upholds Survivors’ Rights

Germany has taken a decisive step in the fight against sexual violence against children. The newly adopted law, the Gesetz zur Stärkung der Strukturen gegen sexuelle Gewalt an Kindern und Jugendlichen (UBSKMG), introduces measures to strengthen structures against sexual violence against children and young people.

Awareness when sharing children's photos and videos

Children eating ice cream, doing gymnastics on sports equipment or dressing up as adults: Images showing children and young people in everyday…

The Future of Multistakeholderism, what role do Children’s rights play in this regard?

The final day of the IGF 2025 was all about multistakeholderism. As the IGF is the only global platform that enables individuals and organisations from around the world to raise issues related to the internet, it is praised for its lively discussions, which are informed by the participants expertise. However, it is also criticised for failing to deliver tangible outcomes and results.

Stand up for children's rights and a better and fairer future!

Children's rights took center stage in the Plenary Hall of the Internet Governance Forum today. Further details are provided on the following sessions: "Securing Child Safety in the Age of Algorithms" and "Elevating Children's Voices in AI Design".