Document details

Mapping Online Child Safety in Asia-Pacific

Singapore: Internet Society (2017), 34 pp.

CC BY-SA

"The study found that all selected economies are working to protect children from online sexual abuse and exploitation. Regardless of their level of Internet penetration, all criminalise the production and distribution of child pornography under domestic law. However, the quality of legislation—when present—vary. Relevant laws in economies with high Internet penetration tend to have a clear and consistent definition of “child” and “child pornography”, and include offenses facilitated by all Internet-enabled platforms. Economies with high Internet penetration have also enacted laws and developed interventions on other aspects of child online safety, such as children’s exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying and Internet addiction. But there does not seem to be any targeted legislative response to the online privacy of children and the protection of children from information security risks. Moreover, comprehensive measures to equip children with the knowledge, tools and skills necessary for them to manage these risks are still lacking, particularly in developing countries in the region. Recently, in Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and Singapore, laws have been passed to protect children against cyberbullying. These laws are being criticised for criminalising children and being inconsistent with the right to freedom of expression. Some believe that it is more effective to tackle cyberbullying through awareness-raising and education programmes with parents, guardians, schools and young people themselves. It must be emphasised that drafting and implementing legislation are only one among the many steps that can be taken by governments. The study found that countries have used a mix of measures to address these concerns, including technical tools to filter content, end-user empowerment, and cooperation between multiple stakeholders, including children." (Executive summary, page 3)