In his intervention delivered to the European Parliament plenary in November, Social Democrat MEP Victor Negrescu called for European measures to ensure that the digitalisation process ensures online safety for young people and children.

“The internet must be a safe space for our children. We need to find a balance between the opportunities and freedom offered by the online environment and the challenges of the internet. What is illegal in society must also be illegal online. We can no longer tolerate our children falling victim to online bullying; being manipulated by malicious people or being subjected to inappropriate content and their data being used illegally”, said Victor Negrescu.

As mentioned also in his report on digital education, adopted by the European Parliament, the MEP continued to stress on the need for “youth and child-friendly digitalisation”.

“Through digital education, child-friendly tools, counselling and support mechanisms, but above all by empowering digital platforms and internet providers, we can make the digital space safe again”, he said.

Victor Negrescu therefore called for measures to be taken at European level to address the aforementioned challenges.

“Children are naturally drawn to innovation and we cannot keep them away from technology, but it is our duty to explain to them how they can use the internet to their advantage, in a safe, enjoyable and even useful way. By acting at European level, we can certainly find solutions to all these challenges”, concluded MEP Victor Negrescu.

In May 2022, the European Commission adopted a new European strategy for a Better Internet for Kids (BIK+), to improve age-appropriate digital services and to ensure that every child is protected, empowered and respected online. It is also the digital arm of the Commission’s comprehensive EU strategy on the rights of the child and reflects the digital principle ‘Children and young people should be protected and empowered online’.

BIK+ is based on three key pillars:

1. Safe digital experiences, protecting children from harmful and illegal online content, conduct, and risks and improving their well-being through a safe, age-appropriate digital environment.
2. Digital empowerment so that children acquire the necessary skills and competences to make informed choices and express themselves in the online environment safely and responsibly.
3. Active participation, respecting children by giving them a say in the digital environment, with more child-led activities to foster innovative and creative safe digital experiences.

To implement these key pillars, the Commission has invited Member States and the industry to come on board and support related actions.