Internet service providers and content creators would have to put children’s interests and child online protection requirements in the first priority.
Such is highlighted in a draft Code of Conduct (CoC) on child online protection recently released by the Ministry of Information and Communications for public comment.
Accordingly, media agencies and businesses and online content creators should develop media contents in conformity with ethics, fine customs and traditions of the country and community standards. They should be careful when creating media contents and check information before broadcasting.
Internet service and platform providers would have to detect and prevent harmful contents and acts of child abuse; and promptly report inappropriate contents and illegal acts to authorities.
They would also have to take measures to control ages and frequency of using products and services provided in the Internet, set up technical tools to review, block and remove harmful contents, and further improve content filters and provide warnings of and barriers to accessing age-restricted contents.
Parents, teachers, and child caregivers should respect children’s online privacy and freedom of expression. They should always update and provide children with knowledge and skills on online information safety as well as ways to safely use IT devices, the Internet and social networks and properly behave in the cyberspace. They should also keep an eye on online activities and relationships of children as well as contents searched and apps used by children.
On their part, children should be careful when searching for information in the Internet. They should neither access links or contents of unknown origin nor share or publicize personal information or secrets online.
The draft CoC also encourages Internet users to share measures for child protection in cyberspace, expand child protection programs to the community, and report harmful information and acts of child abuse to authorities.- (VLLF)
