Code of Ethics of the Advertising Industry
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.
E-Commerce Act (ECG)
The E-Commerce Act establishes regulations and limitations to online advertisements, such as restrictions for alcohol and tobacco, as well as potentially harmful content for minors. In addition, it states limitations to influencers, determining that they must include label advertising and name the advertiser in digital media.
(Source: BIK Policy Monitor 2024).
Entities responsible for implementation:
Federal Chancellery Republic of Austria/Bundeskanzleramt Österreich
Robust, resigned or numb? – Interviews with young people and parents about harmful content online
This report presents findings from a qualitative survey based on focus groups with young people and parents about their experiences of harmful online content. This study, conducted by the Norwegian Media Authority (Medietilsynet), was carried out in Oslo in November 2023. Eleven 13–15-year-olds and their parents were interviewed in two separate focus groups.
National Strategy on the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment
"The issue of protecting children in the digital space, as well as the development of threats and their nature, are very dynamic and rapidly changing phenomena. For this reason, it is therefore necessary to apply a coordinated, consistent and clear approach when solving the concept, as well as an adequate political and institutional support. The national concept for the protection of children in the digital space is developed for the period 2020-2025.
State Pact to protect minors on the Internet and social networks
Six civil society entities - the European Association for Digital Transition (AETD), Save The Children, ANAR Foundation, iCMedia, Dale Una Vuelta and Unicef - with the institutional support of the Spanish Data Protection Agency and the Attorney General's Office, have joined forces to agree on a proposal for a State Pact to address an increasingly pressing problem: the negative impact that, in certain circumstances, the use of the Internet and social networks can have on minors.
Ordinance (2023:844) with instructions for the Swedish Media Agency
Under this Ordinance, the Swedish Agency for the Media is tasked by the government to work for freedom of expression, media and information literacy and the possibilities for media diversity and accessibility within its area of operation. The authority must also work to strengthen children and young people as conscious media users, make use of their experiences and work to protect children from harmful media influence. The Swedish Agency for the Media is also tasked to follow and analyse the development of children’s and young people’s media usage.
(Source: Sveriges Riksdag).
Swedish Radio and Television Act
The Swedish Radio and Television Act (2010:696) contains provisions aimed at protecting children from depictions of violence and pornography. These regulations apply to on-demand services.
Audiovisual Media Services Directive
The rules to protect children from seeing illegal or harmful audiovisual content and inappropriate advertising on television also apply to video-sharing platforms, like YouTube. These cover user- generated videos and, for example, advertisements promoting alcohol, tobacco, food and drinks high in fat, salt or sugar. There are also rules on product placement, television advertising and teleshopping in and around children’s programmes. The obligations for video-sharing platforms (Article 28b of AVMSD) aim to protect all users even more from certain illegal content (e.g.
Digital Services Act (DSA) Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act)
The Digital Services Act aims to create a safer digital space where the fundamental rights of users are protected. Under Art 28, providers of online platforms accessible to minors must put in place appropriate and proportionate measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety, and security of minors, on their service. The Digital Services Act imposes on all providers of digital services obligations to protect minors from illegal content online. They must write their terms and conditions in a way that children can understand.
GDPR: General Data Protection Regulation Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data
The GDPR says that children’s personal data need specific protection, as children may be less aware of their rights, and of what can happen if a company uses their personal data, especially for advertising or proposing content. Information about data processing should be clear and easy for a child to understand. Everyone has the right to be forgotten, under certain conditions. That means a user can ask a company to remove his/her personal data, especially when if (s)he agreed to this as a child.
