The EU chief vowed to take action, arguing that the bloc has the power to ensure that the responsibility for children's safety in digital environments lies with digital service providers.
BRUSSELS, 16 September – EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her State of the European Union address today spoke about the need to create safer digital environments for children by holding technology companies accountable.
The EU chief vowed to take action, arguing that the bloc has the power to ensure that the responsibility for children's safety in digital environments lies with digital service providers.
Francesca Centola, Save the Children Advocacy Advisor, Children’s Rights in the Digital Environment, said:
“Children should not have to accept harmful content, manipulative design or unwanted contact as the price of being online. Yet many tell us they see these experiences as inevitable. We cannot accept that. The digital world must be designed with children's rights, safety and wellbeing at its core. Enough is enough.
"For too long, children have been expected to navigate digital environments that were not designed with their rights in mind. Today's message from President von der Leyen sends an important signal: responsibility for children's safety in digital environments lies with digital service providers. Europe has both the responsibility and the power to act.”
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