Defining Strategies and Best International Practices for the Protection of Children in Cyberspace

The world has recently witnessed the dominance of technological developments, digital transformation, and virtual world on the daily lives of individuals and groups. This development and the great demand for digital technology, as well as the flow of information represented by the rapid spread of the Internet, smart devices and mobile phones, was accompanied by the emergence of many challenges connected to the dominance of this virtual world over human life.

On the one hand, it makes one’s day-to-day life easier; but on the other hand, it endangers the individual’s life and private information and puts the individual at the risk of being a victim to cybercrimes, given that cyberspace is open to attacks by cyber intruders.

Despite the increase in the number of Internet users and the growing reliance on these technologies in the economic and social advancement of societies as well as individuals and their contribution to communication and generating opportunities, they, in turn, possess a number of grave risks that may expose individuals, including children, to many violations, cybercrimes and electronic attacks. Data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) shows that young people between the ages of 15-24 years are the age group that has the most access and use of the Internet, whereas children and adolescents under the age of 18 years make up one third of the Internet users around the world.

Data published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Specialized Agency for Information and Communication Technology, in its Policy Brief indicates that one in three Internet users is a child under 18 years of age.

This technology has two opposite sides. It has increased the interaction of a child with cerebral palsy with the tablet as a means of learning and communicating with his/her peers. On the opposite side, another child ends up committing suicide due to cyber bullying on the Internet, and a young girl is sexually abused and exploited on a live broadcast . Cyberspace, which 5 includes all the above, is a digital world that extends to be a web for prowlers,

bullies and abusers, including sexual exploitation and child trafficking.

Therefore, legal, regulatory and procedural frameworks must be in place to confront cyber threats and educate organizations, individuals and stakeholders about these threats and their consequences, in addition to addressing and responding to them in order to build a secure digital environment that realizes the principles of inclusiveness and gender equality. Cybersecurity plays an essential role and is a strategic weapon to counter cyber-attacks. Protecting children in cyberspace calls for a comprehensive strategy based on the following:

• A child rights-based approach that supports the rights and responsibilities of society in respecting the rights of the child as stipulated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and as stated in General Comment No. 25 (2021) on children’s rights in relation to the digital environment;
• A balance that guarantees the right to protection and prevention from all harms and provides equal and safe opportunities for children to become digital citizens who are able to respond and receive support and self-help in addressing threats;
• Ensure the participation of children in designing and presenting solutions, as well as evaluating and implementing them to maintain their safety in cyberspace.

To learn more about protection of children in cyberspace join our forum on "Defining Strategies and Best International Practices, Including Guidelines for the Protection of Children in Cyberspace"

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