Protecting children online: response to the call for evidence

Executive summary 

Technology offers immense potential to enhance children’s learning, creativity and social engagement, preparing them for the future. However, the digital world also presents risks, making child protection a shared responsibility among the digital industry, families, educators and policymakers. Whilst the digital industry bears a unique obligation to ensure safe and age-appropriate online experiences, all stakeholders play crucial roles in creating a secure digital environment. 

Child protection should not equate to restricting access to valuable knowledge, culture and society when children are mature enough to participate. Instead, the focus should be on enabling access with appropriate safeguards to ensure safety without stifling opportunities. 

We welcome the European Commission’s upcoming guidelines aimed at assisting online platforms in implementing proportionate measures to protect minors’ privacy, safety and security.1 The guidelines should: 

• Strengthen the single market by clarifying the interplay between the Digital Services Act (DSA) and other relevant legislation;2 

• Promote a risk-based approach that allows flexibility for online platforms to implement appropriate measures tailored to their services; 

• Support a risk-based EU-wide harmonised framework for age assurance and verification, ensuring consistent protection for minors across all Member States whilst providing legal certainty on data protection; 

• Consider where parental controls and screen time reminders may be effective, recognising the need for a flexible, risk-based approach.  

Adopting these recommendations in the guidelines will ensure that children across Europe enjoy a safer, more consistent online experience without compromising their ability to benefit from the digital world.