Child Online Protection : Government, Partners On An Offensive Move

For many children today, the internet, mobile phones and other technologies are a constant and familiar companion. Undoubtedly, the Internet brings many opportunities and benefits to children in terms of impact on their education and social inclusion. In spite of the considerable benefits of the Internet, children and young people are being exposed to a number of risks when using the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) tools. It is within this backdrop that the Head of State in his address to youths on February 10, 2023 instructed the government to draw up a charter to ensure the protection of children on the Internet in the country. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Internet providers and other ICT partners are working hand-in-gloves to establish guidelines that will protect children online in the country. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MINPOSTEL) and partners in the digital sector are exchanging experiences on issues related to the presence of children on the Internet. Experts say this is a complex challenge that involves different aspects on the political, operational, technical, legal and governance levels. In line with building safer access to the Internet for children, the government, taking into consideration the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) global Child Online Protection (COP) initiative, is taking measures to secure the Internet for everybody especially children. Through COP, Member State such as Cameroon is developing guidelines to create an appropriate digital environment for children.  

The Law
To reduce the risks incurred by children when using the Internet, the Government has drawn up a draft law on the protection of children online in the country. According to sources from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, the project, a national charter for the protection of children online in Cameroon, defines the regulatory framework applicable to all actors for the protection of children on the web, as well as the main rules applicable to all activities involving children in the virtual world. This is to create a safe and age-appropriate digital environment for the safety of children online. The Child Online Protection Charter, through the law, will strengthen the powers of regulators in the electronic communication sector to deal with the perverse effects of the Internet on children. Reports indicate that the charter will protect children against access to illicit content, will requiring electronic communications operators, particularly Internet Service Providers (ISPs), to establish access control for adult content, provide mechanisms for reporting abuse, and means to report to the authorities all acts constituting child pornography. The charter also sanctions the habitual consultation of child pornography sites, even without downloading the files, as well as "online grooming" (manipulation of children with the aim of abusing them on and off line). The charter prescribes capacity building for children, through training curricula on safe access to the Internet starting in primary school, as well as for teachers and social workers. The protection strategies will include measures and messages that are adapted to different ages and levels of understanding. These measures are aimed at supervising digital use for children and teenagers.

Education, Awareness Campaign 
Beyond the institutional and legal frameworks to build a safer and more secure access to the Internet for children, education, communication and awareness-raising actions are also taking place. This is to inculcate good practices and techniques for safe use of digita...