Joint letter about children’s rights to Rapporteurs on the DSA

Tomorrow, Members of the European Parliament, Council of Ministers of the EU and European Commission have a critical choice: prioritise children’s rights in the Digital Services Act (DSA) or leave millions of children across the EU vulnerable online. 

In a joint letter, 5Rights urges the EU institutions to create a safer digital space for all through the Digital Services Act by: 

• reference UNCRC General comment No. 25 in the DSA to ensure the Act and any interpretation thereof is underpinned by established international law with regards to children’s rights in the digital environment; 

• require service providers ensure a “high level of privacy, safety and security by design” for children, as set out in UNCRC General comment No. 25 and already implemented by companies complying with the UK’s Age-Appropriate Design Code; 

• ensure all services likely to be accessed by children or used in practice by children are in scope, without loopholes. 

Without these measures, millions of children across the EU will remain vulnerable to online harms.  

A robust DSA with child protection at its core will create a safer digital environment for all Europeans.