Tech giants must 'make online spaces safer for children'
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Tech companies, governments, and other groups need to make online spaces safer for children and young people by working together, an international seminar will hear in the Ashling Hotel, Dublin, on Wednesday.
The impact of Coimisiún na Meán’s Online Safety Code will also be discussed, along with threats including cyberbullying and privacy violations.
The keynote speaker and social psychology professor at the London School Of Economics and Political Science, Sonia Livingstone, is a leading expert on children’s rights in the digital age.
“Tech companies have a duty of care to their users and, given its prominence in the tech landscape, Ireland is in a position to really lead across Europe through its new online code,” she said ahead of the event.
“We need to see tech giants in Ireland set a positive example and uphold their duty of care through robust regulatory policies that hold platforms accountable for their content and experiences of users.”
She will also discuss the need for collaboration between tech companies, governments, and civil groups to empower children and young people.
The Children’s Rights Alliance online safety coordinator, Noeline Blackwell, said young people have a right to a safe digital space.
"We have seen technology evolve at break-neck speed and, while this has resulted in unparalleled opportunities for learning and connection, we must also address the risks emerging because our laws and policies have not kept pace with these rapid advancements,” she said.
“The exposure to harmful content along with the potential for cyberbullying means the digital world poses a real and imminent threat to our children’s wellbeing and safety.”