European Digital Identity Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 amending Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 as regards establishing the European Digital Identity Framework
In June 2021 the Commission adopted a proposal for a European Digital Identity. EU citizens and residents should have a right to a European Digital Identity wallet that is safe, free, convenient to use, and protects personal data. This would apply to children according to national law, and also to businesses. The wallet will allow a child e.g. to prove his or her age without revealing other personal data. It gives users control over what data they want to share about themselves, and with whom.
Regulation (EU) 2021/694 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2021 establishing the Digital Europe Programme and repealing Decision (EU) 2015/2240 (Text with EEA relevance)
The Digital Decade policy programme 2030 sets up an annual cooperation cycle to achieve the common objectives and targets. This governance framework is based on an annual cooperation mechanism involving the Commission and Member States.
The cooperation mechanism consists of:
Strategy on the rights of the child COM/2021/142 final
In 2021 the EU adopted its first comprehensive strategy on the rights of the child. The strategy covers six areas: children’s participation, inclusion in society, keeping children safe from harm, child- friendly justice, keeping children safe in the digital world and helping children globally. The strategy includes, among other actions a call to update the Better Internet for Children strategy, as well as other recommendations for Member States and companies.
(Source: EC Compendium of BIK-related legislation).
European Child Guarantee
The objective of the European Child Guarantee is to prevent and combat social exclusion by guaranteeing effective access of children in need to a set of key services:
European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade 2023/C 23/01
In 2022, the Commission proposed a list of digital rights and principles, so daily online life for everyone in the EU is better and safer. They say that people should be free to make their choices online and participate in online discussions and other activities. The internet should become a safer and more secure place, especially for children.
The EU Code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech online
Racist and xenophobic hate speech, online or offline, is a crime in the EU and is not protected by the right to freedom of expression. Under EU law, hate speech refers to expressions which incites to violence or hate targeting a person or group of persons because of their race, colour, religion, ethnic origin or nationality. This is established for in the Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia.
The 2022 Code of Practice on Disinformation
The Code brings together industry to voluntarily combat online disinformation. In 2021, the Commission published guidance to make it even stronger, so that the online environment will be more clear, safe and reliable, including for children and other vulnerable groups. Facebook, Google and Twitter, Mozilla, Microsoft and TikTok, among others, have signed up. Best practice includes examples of fact-checking resources, and prioritizing news from trusted sources. An updated Code will be published in March 2022.
(Source: EC Compendium of BIK-related legislation).
Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp)
The DigComp project, implemented by the Joint Research Centre on behalf of the European Commission, started in 2010. Since then, awareness among Member States of DigComp as the EU-wide framework for framing digital skills policy, developing, and measuring digital competence, has consistently increased.
Strategy on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life (2021-2030)
The Strategy aims to prevent and combat all forms of antisemitism, especially online; protect and support Jewish life in the EU; and promote education, research and Holocaust remembrance, in the EU and globally. The Commission supports Member States to prevent all forms of discrimination against children, including antisemitism, in schools, in sport and other activities, as well as online. Every European child should learn about Jewish life and culture, the history of the Holocaust and antisemitism, as part of Europe’s history.
Combatting child sexual abuse EU strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse (COM/2020/607 final)
The Strategy covers laws and other actions to fight child sexual abuse both online and offline. It covers stopping this crime from happening in the first place, helping its victims access comprehensive assistance and supporting law enforcement. A new centre will coordinate these different strands.
