Mongolia’s guidelines for protecting children in the digital environment

Guidelines for Protecting Children in the Digital Environment represent a comprehensive effort to address the growing concerns related to children’s safety in cyberspace. It seeks to ensure a safe, nurturing online environment by tackling potential threats that children may face while using digital platforms. Recognising the unique vulnerabilities of children online, this policy provides a structured framework for safeguarding their rights and well-being in the digital world. Its scope encompasses a broad range of measures, including educational initiatives, technical solutions, and legal safeguards, while encouraging active participation from all stakeholders such as parents, educators, government bodies, and private organisations. The overarching purpose is to mitigate risks such as exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, and other digital threats, thereby fostering a secure and enriching online experience for children.

Objectives

• To create a structured framework for the protection of children from online risks.
• To ensure the implementation of educational programs that empower children, parents, and educators with knowledge about digital safety.
• To deploy technical solutions, such as filtering and parental control systems, to monitor and control access to harmful online content.
• To establish legal safeguards that penalise and prevent crimes against children in cyberspace.
• To foster collaboration among stakeholders, including public institutions, social media networks, and community organisations, for the collective promotion of online safety.
• To raise awareness through public campaigns and initiatives, such as ‘Safer Internet Day.’
• To create an evaluation and reporting mechanism to measure the effectiveness of the safety measures and address gaps.

Main points of discussion

• Definition and scope: The policy begins by defining key terms, including ‘children,’ ‘online protection,’ and ‘cyberspace.’ It specifies age groups and categorises the range of risks children face online, such as harmful content, cyberbullying, cybercrime, and exposure to inappropriate behavior.
• Strategies and solutions: A combination of educational, technical, and collaborative strategies is recommended. Educational programs aim to provide awareness and training for children, parents, and educators about online risks and safe practices. Technical tools include the use of parental controls, content filtering systems, and monitoring mechanisms. Collaboration between various stakeholders is highlighted as critical for creating an effective safety network.
• Technical and legal measures: To enhance safety, the guidelines propose the establishment of age verification systems, content labeling protocols, and legal measures to combat online crimes involving children. This includes creating a robust legal framework to address harmful and illegal online content.
• Roles of stakeholders: The policy underscores the roles of various actors in ensuring child safety online. Parents and educators are encouraged to actively monitor and guide children’s internet usage, while technology providers are tasked with developing safe digital tools and environments. Social media networks are also called upon to adopt policies that promote safe usage among younger audiences.
• Awareness campaigns: Public initiatives, such as ‘Safer Internet Day,’ are promoted to spread awareness and educate the community about digital safety. These campaigns aim to bring attention to online risks and encourage collective responsibility in addressing them.
• Evaluation and monitoring: Regular evaluation of implemented measures is emphasised. Mechanisms for monitoring threats, reporting incidents, and addressing vulnerabilities are outlined as essential components for maintaining an effective safety framework.

The guidelines conclude with a strong call for collaboration and accountability.