Guidelines for policy makers on child online protection

Summary

A decade ago, around 182 million people globally accessed the Internet, mainly from the developed world. By early 2009, this number had risen to over 1.5 billion, with over 400 million having broadband access. Currently, the Internet has a worldwide presence, with over 600 million users in Asia, 130 million in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 50 million in Africa. The Internet offers vast potential to address societal issues, including healthcare, remote learning, e-government, and job opportunities. However, cybersecurity, particularly for children, remains a critical concern.

Recent surveys indicate that over 60% of children and young people engage in daily chat room interactions, and many are willing to share personal information online. Alarmingly, one in five children may be targeted by predators annually. The Child Online Protection (COP) Initiative, developed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with contributions from various global organizations and national governments, aims to create a safe cyber environment for children. These guidelines provide a blueprint for protecting children online, adaptable to different national and local contexts.

The COP guidelines support ITU Member States in fulfilling their obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Outcomes. The WSIS Action Line C5 emphasizes building confidence and security in ICT usage, specifically addressing children’s protection in cyberspace. The guidelines encourage stakeholders to implement policies and strategies to ensure children’s safety online while enabling their access to the Internet’s vast opportunities.