Better Internet for Kids

Here, we take an in-depth look at the latest monitoring information for Iceland.

BIK policies

Policy design asks whether evidence and research support BIK-related policies and whether systems are in place for monitoring and evaluating those policies.

Policy frameworks

Policy frameworks describe the overarching approach for a better internet, and establish the underlying goals, principles and guidelines that shape individual policies within this area.

In Iceland:

• This topic is an important and emerging policy priority with children’s online protection, digital empowerment and digital participation partially covered in national/regional laws, regulations and policies.
• There are separate, dedicated policies that address children and the digital environment (protection, empowerment, and participation).
• The BIK/BIK+ strategy is not explicitly referred to in national policies but has informed policy development on children and the digital environment.
• Children's rights in the digital environment are not explicitly recognised in national policy documents but receive implicit support in policies dealing with children's digital activity.

Read the full Policy monitor country profile for detailed information on key national policy frameworks in Iceland.

Policy design

Policy design asks whether evidence and research support BIK-related policies and whether systems are in place for monitoring and evaluating those policies.

• There is a regular (e.g., annual or bi-annual) nationally representative survey specifically focused on children’s digital activity, which informs national policies on this topic.
• Systems are in place at the government level to gather information on children and the digital environment (e.g., dedicated research units, think tanks or commissions).
• There is little or no funding available for research on children and the digital environment.
• Policies are monitored and evaluated but not systematically. It depends on the needs at a particular time or when policies are being considered. 

Read the full Policy monitor country profile for detailed information on recent national research studies in Iceland.

Policy governance

Policy governance examines how policies are coordinated at the governmental level, whether other implementation bodies are involved in their delivery, and whether structured mechanisms are available to guide their implementation.

• Policy development sits across a range of ministries, and no lead is specifically assigned responsibility for developing government policies, guidelines and programmes relating to children and the digital environment.
• A clearly defined coordination function is in place, involving all relevant stakeholders and encompasses the cross-cutting policy issues relating to children and the digital environment.
• There is a defined national action plan on children and the digital environment with accountabilities such as defined timelines, assigned responsibilities or key performance indicators (KPIs).

Read the full Policy monitor country profile for detailed information on key policy governance mechanisms in Iceland.

Stakeholder involvement

Stakeholder involvement enquires how different stakeholders can participate in policy development. Children’s involvement in policy-making is one such key issue. Additionally, international knowledge exchange about children's digital participation is also relevant to this topic.

• Various ad hoc multistakeholder groups exist across different branches of government, in which stakeholders may contribute to policy deliberation and development.
• Members of the public are regularly and routinely consulted as part of the policy development process.
• Children are listened to directly in the policy development process (e.g., through hearings, consultations, specific surveys) but are not formally involved in decision-making.
• Policy makers actively participate in various EU-leveland other international inter-governmental groups related to digital policies for children.

Read the full Policy monitor country profile for detailed information on crucial stakeholder involvement mechanisms in Iceland.

BIK+ actions

Pillar 1 – safe digital experiences

Safe digital experiences refer to actions taken to protect children from harmful and illegal online content, conduct, contact, and risks as young consumers and to improve their well-being online through a safe, age-appropriate digital environment created in a way that respects children’s best interests. 

Responses to EU laws

• The Icelandic Parliament, the Althing, has still not transposed the provisions of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) 2018 into the Media Act No 38/2011. A draft bill on the implementation of the AVMSD was submitted before the Icelandic Parliament in May 2021 and again in May 2023 but not deliberated. The bill will be submitted again in the fall. EFTA incorporated the AVMS Directive 2018 into the EEA Agreement with the decision of the EEA Joint Committee on 9 December 2022.
• Legislation to commence implementation of the Digital Services Act in Iceland has not yet begun. 

Addressing harmful online content

• As stated in the Icelandic Media Act: From Icelandic Law on Media: “The Media Commission shall promote media literacy, diversity and pluralism in the media, protect freedom of expression and the public's right to information. The Media Commission shall especially promote that the protection of children is respected, according to the instructions of this law.”
• The Hotline (Police) and Helpline (Red Cross Iceland) are available to children to report matters of concern.
• The Office of Children's Ombudsman has been active for 25 years. Children can complain to them, and their messages will be prioritised.

Addressing harmful online conduct

• National/regional laws, regulations or policies in place to protect children and young people from intimate image abuse are covered under the amendment of the General Penal Code, no. 19/1940 (digital sexual violence) and the on amendment of the General Penal Code, no. 19/1940 (sexual privacy).

• Regarding cyberbullying, there are currently no laws or policies addressing this issue.

Age verification and digital identity systems

• Regarding age verification, amendment of the law on the media, no. 38/2011 (EEA rules, audio and video media services, social media, etc.) is currently under consideration to address this issue.
• A National ID system is available to individuals under 18.

Pillar 2 – digital empowerment

Digital empowerment incorporates actions so that all children, including those in vulnerable situations, acquire the necessary skills and competences to make sound choices and express themselves in the online environment safely and responsibly.

Supports in formal education

• Information and media literacy, as well as digital citizenship, are expected to be included in the next curriculum update.
• The Minister of Education established a working group of specialists to scrutinise and make suggestions on how best to manage the use of smartphones in school work.
• The rules will be drawn up in broad consultation with parents and children, local authorities, school administrators, teachers and other stakeholders, and it is expected that they will be used as guiding criteria for primary schools when establishing school rules on mobile phone use. One of the main objectives is to ensure adequate education about phone use and prevention in order to counter the possible negative effects it can have in schools.
• The Icelandic Media Commission has made teacher training on online safety one of its priorities. Currently, educational lectures for teachers are available from the Icelandic Media Commission free of charge.

Informal education

• There have been occasional projects in regional lifelong learning centres that have offered education on cyber security, e.g. to senior citizens.
• In Iceland, peer-to-peer education has been emphasised on the regional level. Education about internet security and media literacy has, in some places, been added to such programmes.

Empowering through digital skills

• The Icelandic Media Commission and the Icelandic Data Protection Authority went on an educational “campaign tour” in the fall of 2023. Representatives of both regulatory authorities went “on tour” around the country to educate children and teachers in elementary schools all over Iceland on the importance of data privacy, media literacy and children’s online safety. The project is called Netumferðarskólinn “Internet Traffic School” and is still an ongoing project at the Icelandic Media Commission.

Pillar 3 – active participation, respecting children’s rights

Active participation, respecting children’s rights, refers to actions which give children and young people a say in the digital environment, with more child-led activities to foster innovative and creative safe digital experiences.

Active participation

• UNGSAFT is the SAFT Youth Council. It is a platform for young people to express their opinions, educate others and make the internet a better place for everyone.
• In December 2018, Alþingi (parliament) approved changes to the law on the Children's Ombudsman, which aimed to promote the participation of children in the work of the Office and to promote children's participation in social discussion and everything relating to policy-making and decision-making in children's matters at state and local authorities.
• "Child welfare in a digital world" was this year’s theme of the National Information and Media Literacy Week in February, organised by the national media literacy network, TUMI.

Read the full Policy monitor country profile for some best practice examples from Iceland.

BIK+ index 2024: Iceland

The BIK+ index has been developed to provide an aggregated at-a-glance overview of the levels of implementation across the two dimensions, BIK policies and BIK+ actions, in Iceland compared to the EU27+2 average. Values are shown in per cent.

Please note, the data used in this page and the corresponding country profile was collected in February 2024.