TheInternational Telecommunication Union (ITU) and UNICEF together with partners of the Child Online Protection have set up new guidelines for online child protection targeting companies that develop, provide or make use of information and communication technologies.
Known as The Guidelines for Industry on Child Online Protection, the rules also the ICT industry on how to promote safety for children using the Internet or any technologies or devices that can connect to it.
“The revolution in online communications have created tremendous opportunities for young people today, but at the same time they have been exposed to new risks in cyberspace,” said ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré. “These guidelines, prepared in partnership with the Child Online Protection initiative, respond to substantial advances in technology to assess and respond to children’s needs in the online world.”
The new guidelines are also set to enable responsible digital citizenship, learning and civic participation.
“The revolution in online communications have created tremendous opportunities for young people today, but at the same time they have been exposed to new risks in cyberspace,” said ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré. “These guidelines, prepared in partnership with the Child Online Protection initiative, respond to substantial advances in technology to assess and respond to children’s needs in the online world.”
“Innovation by the private sector has helped drive the digital revolution. The same spirit of innovation is key to expanding the reach of that revolution to the most disadvantaged children – and to keeping all children safer, more connected, and more engaged as digital citizens of the future,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake.
Additionally, the Guidelines call for a comprehensive response to the online risks facing children and partnerships across multiple stakeholder groups, including governments, companies, civil society, parents and educators.
“Children’s online safety is a responsibility we all share: from those who care for and teach children, to the companies who provide online services, to policy-makers. Our goal at Facebook is to provide the most accessible online tools for teens as well as to enable them to seek help and advice when they need it. The Guidelines provide a framework for company action on children’s online safety, so we appreciated the opportunity to contribute our expertise to their development. They are practical, evidence-based and should be impactful,” said Simon Milner, Policy Director, Facebook.
The Guidelines were developed in alignment with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the Children’s Rights and Business Principles. They can be accessed online at www.itu.int/en/cop/Pages/guidelines.aspx
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