EC
Two years ago, in May 2022, the Commission adopted the European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+), a comprehensive approach to ensuring the protection, respect, and empowerment of children and young people online. Just a few months later, the Digital Services Act (DSA) introduced strict new rules, putting into practice the Commission’s commitment to children's best interest, their rights and safety in the digital realm.
To mark the 2nd anniversary of the BIK+ Strategy, we are publishing on the BIK portal, our one-stop-shop on online child safety:
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a self-assessment tool on age assurance, to guide online service providers through a critical consideration of their services' age assurance needs. The self-assessment tool consists of a manual (PDF) and a detailed questionnaire, with practical questions to allow informed decision-making, but it does not represent a legal compliance mechanism.
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the latest BIK Policy Monitor Report, which evaluates the status of digital policies amid significant changes in regulatory landscapes, assessing progress and gaps in BIK+ policies in the Member States, Iceland and Norway. Two years on from the adoption of the BIK+ strategy, fostering a better and safer internet for children is an important policy priority in nearly all European countries. Out of the 29 countries surveyed, 28 address the topics of safe digital protection, digital empowerment, and active participation in their national laws, policies and programmes.
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an update of the Compendium of the EU formal texts concerning children in the digital world with the developments since 2022. The compendium aims to provide a comprehensive overview of relevant EU legislation and policies, serving as a reference guide for policymakers, stakeholders and researchers.
As we celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the BIK+ strategy, enforcement of the DSA is making a big change to child safety online. The recent adoption of the European Digital Identity Regulation now opens the way to an EU-wide proof of age, just one of the BIK+ initiatives still underway to ensure a better internet for children and young people in Europe.