United Nations calls for immediate measures to safeguard childrens online safety

UN High Commissioner Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Children Online

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has issued a statement urging governments and tech companies to take immediate action to protect children online. The call comes as part of a global push for greater accountability and oversight of social media platforms.

Turk emphasized the need for stronger measures to enhance protection of children online, stating that it is an “urgent priority”. In conjunction with this statement, the UN human rights office has released guidelines aimed at improving children’s safety online and protecting their rights through regulation. The guidelines include provisions for age verification processes, child rights impact assessments, and involving children in shaping regulatory responses.

The measures are part of a broader effort to address concerns about social media platforms’ safety and data protection. Several countries have introduced age-based restrictions on social media access, including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Austria, Denmark, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The UN guidelines aim to ensure that regulations do not inadvertently cause further harm.

The UN human rights office has also emphasized the importance of involving children in shaping regulatory responses and ensuring that platforms are designed with safety and data protection in mind. Turk noted that age verification processes must be implemented correctly to avoid harming both children and adults.

Source: Al Jazeera