- Uniform European rules instead of national go-it-alone approaches
- eco calls for effective protection of minors in the media on the basis of the Digital Services Act
- Data protection and end-to-end encryption must be preserved
The European Commission today published the final report of its expert group on the protection of minors in the digital environment. The report contains recommendations for the future design of the European legal framework, including a minimum age of 13 for the use of social media and risk-based, graduated access to digital services.
The Commission has announced that it will carefully examine the recommendations and present a corresponding proposal after the summer break.
“The expert group’s recommendations are an important contribution to the European debate on protecting children and young people in the digital environment. What matters now is to connect the proposed measures, established protection mechanisms and the existing legal framework in a meaningful way: age-appropriate safeguards, effective age verification, media literacy and the enforcement of existing rules must be considered together. The Digital Services Act already provides an important European framework for this, which should be implemented consistently and further developed coherently,” says Alexandra Koch-Skiba, Head of the eco Complaints Office.
European solutions instead of national go-it-alone approaches
From eco’s perspective, cross-border digital services require a uniform European approach. Any rules on a minimum age should be regulated at EU level in order to prevent fragmentation of the single market and unnecessary compliance hurdles for providers of digital services. At the same time, eco is concerned that the expert commission is advocating supplementary national age rules in the range of 13 to 18 years.
This runs counter to the harmonisation approach and risks creating a national patchwork. Germany must actively help shape further European developments, guided by the principle of harmonisation.
“Effective protection of minors in the media is not created by a single measure. Children and young people need protection from risks, but they also need the ability to use digital services safely and independently. What is therefore crucial is a balanced interaction between technical safeguards, responsible design of digital services, low-threshold support services and the strengthening of media literacy,” says Koch-Skiba.
The Digital Services Act already obliges large online platforms to assess risks for minors and take appropriate protective measures. These requirements must be consistently enforced and reviewed for their effectiveness. In the further development of the legal framework, care should also be taken to ensure that protective measures remain practical, proportionate and compatible with high data protection standards.
With regard to the call to close as quickly as possible the current gap caused by the lack of a legal basis for searching for depictions of the sexual abuse of children and juveniles, eco supports the need for legal certainty for companies. At the same time, eco appeals for policymakers to refrain from a general search obligation, as has in part been called for in the context of the CSAM Regulation. Established and necessary cybersecurity measures such as end-to-end encryption must also be neither broken nor weakened.
Strengthening existing structures: safe digital participation through prevention and support
eco welcomes the fact that the expert commission also addresses financial support for Safer Internet Centres in the EU Member States. The three pillars of Safer Internet Centres, “reporting, advising and raising awareness”, are important strands for positive online experiences for young Internet users and for combating illegal Internet content.
Through help and advice services, reporting offices (“hotlines”) and awareness centres, they support children when they encounter problematic situations online, enable illegal and harmful content to be reported and help millions of children, parents, carers and educators acquire the knowledge and skills that are essential for safe use of the digital world.
Public funding is essential to maintain and further develop the work of Safer Internet Centres, while also ensuring their independence and coherence.
About eco
With around 1,000 member companies, eco – Association of the Internet Industry is the largest association of the Internet industry in Europe. For over 30 years, eco has shaped the development of the Internet, promoted digital innovation and advocated for a secure, trustworthy and high-performance digital ecosystem.
About the eco Complaints Office
The eco Complaints Office has been active since 1996 and is an integral part of Germany’s system of regulated self-regulation. It enables Internet users to report harmful-to-minors and criminal content free of charge and anonymously, and works closely with providers, authorities and international partners.
On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, eco is happy to offer interested media representatives background discussions and deeper insights into the work of the eco Complaints Office in Cologne. Contact us at hotline@eco.de.
