On October 24th, the Shanghai Putuo District Prosecutor’s Office hosted an open day dedicated to juvenile online protection, titled “Government-Procurement E-Enterprise Joint Action for Youth”. This event aimed to enhance the online safety of minors and foster a healthy digital environment.
During the event, a new guideline titled “Guidelines for the Protection of Minors by Internet Companies” was unveiled. The purpose of these guidelines is to encourage internet businesses to assume their social responsibilities and collaboratively build a robust protective barrier for minors online.
The guidelines delineate five major areas: addiction prevention features, content regulations, and personal information protection, subdivided into 18 categories that address 32 potential issues. It presents one-on-one recommendations for each scenario, supported by relevant legal references. Notably, it emphasizes that platforms like online gaming, live streaming, video sharing, and social media should implement a minor mode, complete with time management, permission management, and spending controls to combat minors’ addiction to online entertainment.
Additionally, recognizing that minors may struggle to discern harmful information, the guidelines call on companies to strengthen information management. They are instructed to categorize and grade harmful content based on its impact on minors’ mental and physical health, employing measures such as clear warnings and content removal as necessary. In light of rising concerns about threats to minors from online scams, harassment, cyberbullying, and data breaches, the guidelines also summarize relevant provisions under the “Internet Protection Regulations” concerning the personal information of minors, clarifying the responsibilities of key stakeholders like internet service providers and data handlers.
In the consumer realm, the guidelines specify legal requirements regarding products like alcohol, tattoos, and video games, indicating that “online games must not offer recharge services to minors under 8 years old” and imposing strict limits on recharge amounts for minors aged 8 to 16 and 16 to 18. This aims to encourage internet companies to proactively mitigate risks and uphold their legal obligations as a protective measure.
Xu Lichun, head of the Dandelion Juvenile Protection Team, stated, “There are no minimum standards when it comes to protecting minors. Various online platforms should actively fulfill their social responsibilities, adhering to the principle that benefits minors the most. We must enforce strict obligations on internet companies, including mandatory reporting and employee background checks, to create a comprehensive network of juvenile protection that involves government oversight, industry self-governance, corporate self-discipline, and legal supervision.”
Representatives from invited internet companies expressed their strong commitment to the guidelines, affirming their intention to enhance efforts in protecting minors online and taking on their necessary social responsibilities.
