Better Internet for Kids

The annual meeting of the advisory board of the Greek Safer Internet Centre, operating under the Foundation for Research and Technology (FORTH), was successfully held on Wednesday, 11 December 2024. This year's central theme, "Digital Services Act (DSA) – Building a safer and fairer online world," highlighted the urgent need for coordinated action in light of the new European Regulation's implementation.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders in Greece, who analysed the main provisions of the DSA. The new European Regulation introduces significant obligations for major online platforms and search engines, setting new standards for safety and accountability. The primary message was clear: protecting users, especially minors, is a top priority. The DSA provides a robust institutional framework to address modern challenges, but its success hinges on collective effort.

The meeting concluded with a strong commitment to collaboration, emphasising that protecting internet users requires the joint efforts of institutions, organisations, and civil society. SafeLine, with over 20 years of experience in managing reports of illegal content and its recognition as a trusted flagger, expressed its readiness to contribute and strengthen this effort.

Key contributions from stakeholders

During the session, several prominent figures shared their insights:

• Professor Konstantinos Karantzalos, Secretary General of Telecommunications and Post of the Ministry of Digital Governance, emphasised the importance of DSA in safeguarding user rights.
• Professor P. Fragopoulou, coordinator of the Greek Safer Internet Centre, highlighted the importance of the Digital Services Act in establishing a comprehensive framework, aiming for continuous development and renewal, that sets clear rules and assigns responsibilities to platforms for self-monitoring, risk assessment, mitigation measures and transparency.
• Professor Konstantinos Masselos, President of the National Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT), stressed the regulation's focus on protecting children and young people, particularly against sexual exploitation, which is on the rise. He highlighted the need for early platform alerts to prevent the spread of illegal content.
• Annika Ostergren, Representative of the European Commission and Senior expert in charge of coordinating the ΕC’s work on the Article 28, underlined the DSA's significance in protecting minors online across Europe, mentioning that initial audits of popular platforms and search engines have already begun.
• Sofia Papathanassopoulou, Head of the Broadband department at the Ministry of Digital Governance, pointed out that the design of online platforms often encourages misuse by minors. She announced plans to establish a working group to tackle this issue.
• Persa Lambropoulou, Legal expert from the National Council for Radio and Television (NCRTV), outlined the council's role as a coordinator for DSA implementation in Greece.
• Dr. Konstantinos Limniotis, IT specialist and Head of the Studies and Research department at the Hellenic Data Protection Authority, highlighted the challenges of implementing age verification systems on platforms, noting that efforts are underway at the European level.

Youth perspectives

Representatives from the Youth Panel of the Greek Safer Internet Centre also participated, sharing their views and expectations regarding the DSA's implementation. A youth representative, Theano Sakka, emphasised the need for more accessible and understandable processes, particularly when addressing personal data concerns. She remarked:

"Sometimes it’s difficult to report something harmful we encounter online, and we give up. When the process involves reading lengthy texts, we abandon the effort."

The session concluded with a shared understanding among all participants that the successful implementation of the DSA in Greece requires close collaboration. Stakeholders acting as mutual supporters can achieve significant results in safeguarding minors online.

Find more information about the work of the Greek Safer Internet Centre, including its awareness raising, helpline, hotline, and youth participation services, or find similar information for other Safer Internet Centres throughout Europe.