CoEs Committee of Ministers: States to focus on protecting children rights in the digital environment

The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers adopted a declaration on 28 April stating the states should focus on protecting the privacy of children in the digital environment in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While acknowledging the opportunities and benefits the information and communication technologies provide to children, the committee of ministers expressed concerns on the risks it poses to children such as use of their personal data without consent, the traceability of children’s activities online that may expose them to online harm, online sexual abuse and exploitation etc. The ministers raised the issue of the  consequences and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children that has resulted in children spending more time online and in some instances leading to digital exclusion

This case has been put on hold as it awaits a UK Supreme Court ruling  expected next week in a bellwether case against Google over alleged unlawful tracking of iPhone users in 2011 and 2012 through third-party cookies.