Better Internet for Kids

Eight-Point Plan for Digital Learning (8-Punkte-Plan) is an initiative aimed at expanding innovative teaching and learning in the Austrian education system. The national plan includes (1) a digital school portal, (2) standardisation of platforms, (3) continuing education for educators, (4) expanding the platform Eduthek, (5) certifying learning apps, (6) expanding IT infrastructure at schools, (7) providing digital terminals for students (8) and teachers.

(Source: Website).

Reality Check is a component of the Austrian Youth Strategy (Österreichische Jugendstrategie) focusing on participation. It provides guidance on how the views and needs of young people can be incorporated into the development of youth goals and measures of the Austrian Youth Strategy.

Reality checks can be carried out in 3 different ways:

In Austria - as in almost all European countries - there is a dual system for the restriction of advertising, consisting, on the one hand, of legal regulations and, on the other hand, of self-restriction guidelines. The code of ethics of the advertising industry represents a core part of the Austrian system for the protection of consumers against the misuse of advertising. Self-disciplinary mechanisms of the advertising industry serve to monitor and correct aberrations and undesirable developments in advance of and at the margins of the legal provisions.

The Digital Skills Initiative for Austria (DKO) is a national strategy that includes a package of actions to enhance digital experiences in the country, particularly through workshops and educational measures. The initiative established a Digital Skills Office, responsible for implementing 4,500 digitalisation workshops for the population in all Austrian municipalities.
(Source: Website).

The Federal Youth Representation Act (B-JVG), which was put into force in 2001, concerns the participation of children and young people in decision-making processes in the country. It guarantees by law that their voices and opinions are heard.
(Source: Website).

Entities responsible for implementation: Federal Chancellery Republic of Austria/Bundeskanzleramt Österreich.

Section § 107c of the Austrian Criminal Code (Federal Law of 23 January 1974 on acts punishable by law, Criminal Code - StGB) addresses cyberbullying and continuous harassment by telecommunication or computer devices. It includes harmful content related to damages to a person’s honour and facts and images shared without consent. The provision was included in the StGB in 2015 and was amended in 2021 by the Hate on the Net Combating Act (HiNBG). In addition, Section 207a addresses CSAM and sexual depiction of minors (Source: Strafgesetzbuch, BIK Policy Monitor 2024).

The Hate on the Net Combating Act (HiNBG) amends the Criminal Code (1974), modifying section § 107c. The new provision considers harassment by telecommunication or computer devices even in a single occurrence (a single non-consensual upload of images). In addition, descriptions of offences are also modified. The HiNBG has been in force since 2021.  (Source: HiNBG)

Entities responsible for implementation: Federal Ministry of Justice, Republic of Austria/Bundesministerium für Justiz

The Digital Austria Act establishes a digital work programme with 117 measures and 35 principles for digitalisation in the country. It encompasses an analysis of law suitability for digital processes, public administrative reforms, and adaptation to technologies. Moreover, it is based on a digital accessibility principle that includes the entire population, especially people with disabilities.
(Source: Website)

This Code of Conduct sets guidelines for the protection of minors in audiovisual media, including provisions for video-sharing platform providers.
(Source: Website)

Entities responsible for implementation:
Association for the Self-regulation of Audiovisual Media Offerings for the Protection of Minors/Verein zur Selbstkontrolle audiovisueller Medienangebote zum Schutz von Minderjährigen

The DSA Accompanying Act (DSA-BegG) is the federal law that enacts the Digital Services Act in Austria and amends other national laws. It was discussed and published in 2023 and entered into force in 2024. The DSA-BegG provides new procedures against illegal content (particularly harmful content for children) and supporting clauses for victims of online hate speech. 
(Source: BIK Policy Monitor 2024)

Entities responsible for implementation:
Federal Chancellery Republic of Austria/Bundeskanzleramt Österreich