The Better Internet for Kids (BIK) Policy monitor is a tool to compare and exchange knowledge on policymaking and implementation in EU Member States, Iceland and Norway on the pillars and recommendations of the European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children (BIK+ strategy). The 2026 edition of the BIK Policy Monitor report examines the implementation of the BIK+ strategy in 29 European countries, including all EU Member States, Iceland, and Norway.
Here, we take an in-depth look at the latest monitoring information for Iceland.
Iceland’s digital landscape is characterised by a high-quality infrastructure and a business-friendly environment, though it faces significant challenges regarding human capital and specialised skills. Iceland is a European leader in fibre-optic deployment, maintaining a penetration rate near 80%, and has successfully extended 5G coverage to half of its population. Economically, Iceland benefits from strong institutional quality and robust intellectual property protection (OECD 2021). While business R&D expenditure is well above the EU average, the proportion of ICT specialists in the workforce is notably low, performing at only 79.6% of the EU average. This skills gap extends to the education system; despite having adequate digital devices in schools, teachers often lack the pedagogical and technical expertise to integrate them effectively. Furthermore, PISA results indicate a lack of core competencies among students, particularly those from immigrant backgrounds, and STEM graduation rates remain below the OECD average. The government has implemented forward-looking policies such as the "Innovative Iceland" policy and an AI Action Plan (2025–2027) focused on ethical and transparent use in the public sector. These initiatives, along with a 15-year National Cybersecurity Strategy, aim to modernise public services, safeguard critical infrastructure, and foster a digitally-enabled workforce to ensure long-term economic resilience and social inclusion.
Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report.
BIK policies
This concerns how national-level policies relevant to the BIK agenda are organised, managed, and supported by evidence and stakeholder input.
Policy frameworks
Policy frameworks describe the overarching goals that shape policies for a better internet for kids.
In Iceland:
- This topic is an important and emerging policy priority partially covered in national/regional laws, regulations and policies.
- There are separate, dedicated policies which address the topic of children and the digital environment (protection, empowerment, and participation).
The BIK+ strategy is an important influence on policy development on children and the digital environment.
Children's rights in relation to the digital environment are an important and emerging policy priority, with specific policies in development on this topic.
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.
In Iceland:
- 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 BIK topics.
- Regular (e.g., annual or bi-annual) surveys include measures of children’s experiences of risks, harms and digital well-being.
- Systems are in place at the government level to gather information on children and the digital environment.
- Existing regular national research funding is available for research on children and the digital environment, but this is not explicitly specified.
- Policies are regularly monitored and evaluated, but not always systematically.
Policy governance
Policy governance examines how policies are coordinated at the governmental level, whether other implementation bodies are involved in their delivery and coordination.
In Iceland:
- Policy development sits across different ministries with leadership officially distributed according to the area of specialisation.
- A clearly defined, formal coordination mechanism exists (e.g., task force, steering committee) with a clear mandate. It systematically engages all relevant stakeholders and ensures coherent, cross-cutting policy development and implementation related 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).
Stakeholder involvement
Stakeholder involvement enquires how different stakeholders can participate in policy development.
In Iceland:
- Stakeholders are involved through various existing groups or platforms across different government branches. While opportunities for engagement exist, they are not centrally coordinated, and stakeholder participation may vary in consistency or influence.
- Members of the public are regularly and routinely consulted as part of the policy development for BIK topics. There is broad, inclusive, and transparent engagement, with feedback actively shaping policy outcomes
- Children are listened to directly in the policy development process but are not formally involved in decision-making.
Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report.
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.
| In place | In development | Other activity | Not present | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content rating systems for online/video games | X | |||
| DSC measures: protection of minors | X | |||
| DSC-SIC working relationship | X | |||
| Definition of harmful online content | X | |||
| Complaints handling mechanism | X | |||
| Intimate image abuse laws | X | |||
| Cyberbullying laws | X | |||
| Age verification requirements | X | |||
| Digital wallet for minors | X | |||
| EU harmonised age verification |
| X |
| |
| Laws on online marketing | X | |||
| Protecting mental health and well-being | X |
|
Pillar 2 – digital empowerment
Digital empowerment involves actions that ensure all children, including those in vulnerable situations, acquire the necessary skills and competences to make sound choices and to express themselves safely and responsibly in the online environment.
| In place | In development | Other activity | Not present | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching online safety | X | |||
| Digital skills training | X | |||
| Policies on digital use in schools | X | |||
| Adequate teacher training | X | |||
| Non-formal online safety education | X | |||
| Critical media literacy | X | |||
| Creative digital skills | X | |||
| Supports for parents | X |
Pillar 3 – active participation, respecting children’s rights
This includes actions that promote young people's active participation and respect for their rights through such activities as fostering innovative and creative safe digital experiences for young people and ensuring they have a say in policies governing the digital environment.
| In place | In development | Other activity | Not present | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promoting civic engagement | X | |||
| Promoting children’s rights | X | |||
| Child-friendly policy documents | X | |||
| Addressing digital inequalities | X | |||
| Positive digital content | X |
Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report.
BIK+ index 2026: 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 January 2026.
National research and reports
Here, we take an in-depth look at the latest monitoring information for Iceland.
Iceland’s digital landscape is characterised by a high-quality infrastructure and a business-friendly environment, though it faces significant challenges regarding human capital and specialised skills. Iceland is a European leader in fibre-optic deployment, maintaining a penetration rate near 80%, and has successfully extended 5G coverage to half of its population. Economically, Iceland benefits from strong institutional quality and robust intellectual property protection (OECD 2021). While business R&D expenditure is well above the EU average, the proportion of ICT specialists in the workforce is notably low, performing at only 79.6% of the EU average. This skills gap extends to the education system; despite having adequate digital devices in schools, teachers often lack the pedagogical and technical expertise to integrate them effectively. Furthermore, PISA results indicate a lack of core competencies among students, particularly those from immigrant backgrounds, and STEM graduation rates remain below the OECD average. The government has implemented forward-looking policies such as the "Innovative Iceland" policy and an AI Action Plan (2025–2027) focused on ethical and transparent use in the public sector. These initiatives, along with a 15-year National Cybersecurity Strategy, aim to modernise public services, safeguard critical infrastructure, and foster a digitally-enabled workforce to ensure long-term economic resilience and social inclusion.
Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report.
BIK policies
This concerns how national-level policies relevant to the BIK agenda are organised, managed, and supported by evidence and stakeholder input.
Policy frameworks
Policy frameworks describe the overarching goals that shape policies for a better internet for kids.
In Iceland:
- This topic is an important and emerging policy priority partially covered in national/regional laws, regulations and policies.
- There are separate, dedicated policies which address the topic of children and the digital environment (protection, empowerment, and participation).
The BIK+ strategy is an important influence on policy development on children and the digital environment.
Children's rights in relation to the digital environment are an important and emerging policy priority, with specific policies in development on this topic.
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.
In Iceland:
- 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 BIK topics.
- Regular (e.g., annual or bi-annual) surveys include measures of children’s experiences of risks, harms and digital well-being.
- Systems are in place at the government level to gather information on children and the digital environment.
- Existing regular national research funding is available for research on children and the digital environment, but this is not explicitly specified.
- Policies are regularly monitored and evaluated, but not always systematically.
Policy governance
Policy governance examines how policies are coordinated at the governmental level, whether other implementation bodies are involved in their delivery and coordination.
In Iceland:
- Policy development sits across different ministries with leadership officially distributed according to the area of specialisation.
- A clearly defined, formal coordination mechanism exists (e.g., task force, steering committee) with a clear mandate. It systematically engages all relevant stakeholders and ensures coherent, cross-cutting policy development and implementation related 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).
Stakeholder involvement
Stakeholder involvement enquires how different stakeholders can participate in policy development.
In Iceland:
- Stakeholders are involved through various existing groups or platforms across different government branches. While opportunities for engagement exist, they are not centrally coordinated, and stakeholder participation may vary in consistency or influence.
- Members of the public are regularly and routinely consulted as part of the policy development for BIK topics. There is broad, inclusive, and transparent engagement, with feedback actively shaping policy outcomes
- Children are listened to directly in the policy development process but are not formally involved in decision-making.
Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report.
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.
| In place | In development | Other activity | Not present | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content rating systems for online/video games | X | |||
| DSC measures: protection of minors | X | |||
| DSC-SIC working relationship | X | |||
| Definition of harmful online content | X | |||
| Complaints handling mechanism | X | |||
| Intimate image abuse laws | X | |||
| Cyberbullying laws | X | |||
| Age verification requirements | X | |||
| Digital wallet for minors | X | |||
| EU harmonised age verification |
| X |
| |
| Laws on online marketing | X | |||
| Protecting mental health and well-being | X |
|
Pillar 2 – digital empowerment
Digital empowerment involves actions that ensure all children, including those in vulnerable situations, acquire the necessary skills and competences to make sound choices and to express themselves safely and responsibly in the online environment.
| In place | In development | Other activity | Not present | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching online safety | X | |||
| Digital skills training | X | |||
| Policies on digital use in schools | X | |||
| Adequate teacher training | X | |||
| Non-formal online safety education | X | |||
| Critical media literacy | X | |||
| Creative digital skills | X | |||
| Supports for parents | X |
Pillar 3 – active participation, respecting children’s rights
This includes actions that promote young people's active participation and respect for their rights through such activities as fostering innovative and creative safe digital experiences for young people and ensuring they have a say in policies governing the digital environment.
| In place | In development | Other activity | Not present | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promoting civic engagement | X | |||
| Promoting children’s rights | X | |||
| Child-friendly policy documents | X | |||
| Addressing digital inequalities | X | |||
| Positive digital content | X |
Read the full 2026 edition of the Policy monitor report.
BIK+ index 2026: 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 January 2026.
National research and reports
