Moldovan cabinet approves new measures to enhance children's online safety

Chisinau, 23 May /MOLDPRES/ – The internet service providers will be required to stipulate to users with ability to install Internet content filtering on applications with a negative impact on children. Parents will be able to download these apps, protecting children in virtual environment. At the same time, operators will create on their web pages special sections dedicated to info on online safety, the government’s communication and protocol department has reported.

Amendments to the Child Protection Act against the negative impact of information have been approved at the Government's meeting today. The measures have been developed in line with the Action Plan to promote safety of children and adolescents for 2017 – 2020.

According to a study conducted by the SocioPolis Research and Advice Centre, the main issues in online space are breakdown of social networking accounts – every fifth child between 12 – 15 has collided with such cases, blocking groups social networks – 18.6 per cent of children, involuntary access to or viewing sexual images – 16.3 per cent of children.

Among risky actions of teenagers on internet is that one – third of children are looking for friends online. Thirty per cent shop in virtual stores and 13 per cent buy online games. Many children do not know about the risks in virtual space.

At present, some Internet service providers in Moldova already offer access to applications that protect children in online space at request of subscribers.