Industry initiative for the protection of minors from harmful media
The use of computers, smartphones and tablets is a challenge for young people and their parents: From what age? For how long? Which websites and games? With the new industry initiative for youth media protection, the Swiss telecommunications industry supports young people and parents in dealing with digital media.
Today, young people and children use the Internet as a matter of course, and computers, smartphones and tablets are everyday companions. But dealing with new technologies has to be learned and presents young users and their parents with new challenges time and again. The Swiss Telecommunications Association (Asut), together with Salt, Sunrise, Swisscom and UPC, would like to support children, young people and parents in this, Asut writes. To this end, a new industry initiative for youth media protection is being launched.
The measures
The telecommunications industry launched a joint industry initiative back in 2008. Since then, the use of the Internet and terminal devices has changed considerably, and the previous measures had to be adapted. New findings from the federal government's "Youth and Media" project were also taken into account. The new industry initiative is based on advice and information and focuses on the following measures:
- The industry initiative includes a presentation of various legal duties and obligations.
- The signatory companies offer their customers blocking options for their video-on-demand services with age restrictions, as hosting providers hold their business partners to compliance with youth protection measures, and in cooperation with Kobik block access to child pornography.
- Customers are jointly informed about current child and youth protection software.
- In addition, the companies offer information on the protection of minors from harmful media during the sales process, in customer service, or on their websites. In order to make these offers known quickly, all existing customers are also made aware of them once.
- In addition, the companies appoint a youth media protection officer.
- The implementation and further development of the industry initiative takes place in exchange with authorities and interested organizations.
- There are now binding deadlines for implementing the measures. Companies must have implemented the industry initiative by the end of 2016. The industry initiative will also be reviewed as part of a regular external evaluation.
With these measures, the signatories support children, young people and parents in dealing with digital media. The Industry initiative entered into force on June 10, 2016, and is open to all telecommunications service providers. According to information, the first signatories include Salt, Sunrise, Swisscom and UPC.
