Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-05 21:00:00
In recent years, Africa has seen a concerning increase in online child sexual exploitation. A prime example is Kenya, where the 2021 Disrupting Harm report revealed that 67 percent of children between the ages of 12 and 17 use the internet. Despite this surge, the measures to adequately protect children online have not kept up with increased internet penetration. As we mark Safer Internet Day, it is essential to reflect on this issue.
The 2023 Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL) Safety for Children and their Rights Online (SCROL) study found that about 38.8 percent of children reported that their parents do not understand the internet and social media applications. This knowledge gap hinders parents and caregivers from effectively shielding their children from online sexual exploitation.
In an age dominated by technology, the responsibility of protecting children extends beyond the government, parents, and guardians. It requires technology service providers to take a leading and accountable role in promoting the safety of children using their platforms.
Tech companies, social media platforms, and online service providers provide virtual playgrounds for children, making it imperative for them to prioritize and invest in robust preventive measures to protect children from online risks. These risks range from intrusion to privacy, cyber-bullying, online grooming, sexting, exposure to child sexual abuse materials, live streaming, and child pornography. It is crucial for these companies to make their platforms child-friendly and responsive to the needs of children.
In Kenya, the ChildFund’s Safe Community Linkages for Internet Child Safety (CLICS) project found that 42 percent of social service providers have been engaged in activities to support survivors of online violence. Major social media companies have also implemented several measures to prevent online child sexual exploitation. For example, Meta is strengthening its taskforce of specialists dedicated to online safety to combat online predators who use Facebook and Instagram to exploit children. TikTok has introduced the use of AI algorithms to detect and remove inappropriate content and encourages users to report suspicious activities.
While these efforts are commendable, there is still much work to be done to address this massive threat. It is encouraging to see that child-focused organizations are at the forefront of this issue. Terre des Hommes Netherlands and ChildFund are engaging the private sector to change its approach towards children’s safety online. This includes working with internet service providers to establish settings that restrict access to sites that promote online sexual abuse, in addition to working with government institutions, schools, communities, and families to help them effectively recognize and respond to online child sexual abuse and exploitation.
As guardians of the digital realm, the private sector must be held accountable for protecting children online. Digital actors must prioritize implementing stringent measures, including age verification and content moderation, backed by an effective response system to address any violations. Additionally, the private sector can promote the safe use of ICT by integrating child rights and safety considerations into appropriate corporate policies and management processes.
Establishing effective mechanisms to enable the public to report abusive and exploitative content online is paramount. Industry players must collaborate with other actors to ensure adequate legal frameworks and implementation structures for the effective prosecution of online child sexual exploitation crimes and the protection of victims. Private companies should work closely with law enforcement agencies to report and combat these vices. This collaboration can involve sharing information, providing technical support, and ensuring swift responses to reported cases.
In conclusion, it is crucial that the private sector, in collaboration with government institutions, non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders, takes concerted action to protect children from online sexual exploitation. Together, they can work towards creating a safer and more secure online environment for children in Africa and around the world.
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