Blocking harmful content on the Internet, in particular child pornography

Blocking harmful content on the Internet, in particular child pornography, is an important problem that requires attention and measures from legislators, parents and society as a whole. The legislative framework in Ukraine and European countries regulates the protection of children from harmful content and imposes responsibility on site owners and Internet providers.

Regulatory framework

One of the main documents regulating the protection of children from sexual exploitation and sexual violence is the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Violence of October 25, 2007. Ukraine is a party to this Convention and is obliged to implement its provisions in national legislation.

Also important is the Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of Public Morals”, which contains provisions on the prohibition of the distribution of pornography and other materials that violate public morals. According to this law, pornography and other materials containing elements of sexual exploitation are harmful to the moral health of children and young people, so their distribution and display are prohibited.

In addition, the Law of Ukraine “On Telecommunications” and the Law of Ukraine “On Protection of Information in Information and Telecommunications Systems” set requirements for Internet providers to block access to harmful content. In particular, providers must block access to materials containing pornographic and erotic content, as well as materials promoting violence, national, racial and religious hatred, and other materials containing harmful content. The responsibility for blocking content rests with providers, who must ensure the safety and protection of users from harmful content.

Directive 2010/13/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of Europe of March 10, 2010 on the harmonization of certain provisions laid down by laws, regulations and administrative provisions in the Member States regarding the provision of audiovisual media services contains provisions on the protection of children from harmful materials. According to this directive, Member States must ensure that audiovisual media services are made available to children only with the prior consent of their parents or guardians.

The Criminal Code of Ukraine contains provisions on criminal liability for the production, storage, transportation and distribution of pornography, including child pornography. In addition, according to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the production, storage and distribution of child pornography is a particularly serious crime.

General information

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the number of cases of distribution of child pornography on the Internet increases every year. Not only legislators and Internet providers, but also parents and educators should pay attention to this problem.

Practical advice for parents on blocking harmful content for children

Parents and educators should remember that blocking access to harmful content is one of the most effective means of protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse. Here are some practical tips to help parents protect their children from harmful content:

• Install a content blocking program on your computer.
  There are many free programs that allow you to block access to harmful content on the Internet.
• Monitor what your children are watching online. Discuss with them the rules of safety on the Internet and warn them about the dangers of dialogue with strangers on the Internet.
• Install applications on your smartphone and tablet that will help block access to harmful content. Some apps have parental controls that allow you to limit the time you spend on your devices and block access to certain apps and websites.
• Educate your children about sexual exploitation and abuse. Discuss with them how they can protect themselves from these dangers and what actions should be taken in the event of a dangerous situation.

Liability

Not only legislators and Internet providers are responsible for protecting children from harmful content, but also parents and educators. They should be aware of the dangers posed by harmful material on the Internet and take steps to protect themselves.

One important step is to educate children about sexual exploitation and abuse. Children need to know what violence is and how it can appear, as well as what actions to take in the event of a dangerous situation. It is also important to teach children how they can protect themselves from sexual exploitation and how to prevent it.

Parents and educators should also understand that blocking access to harmful content is not the only way to protect against sexual exploitation and abuse. It is important to communicate openly with children and ensure their safety not only online, but also in real life. Parents should be aware of who their children are talking to, where they are and who they come home with.

Court practice

Ukraine has a fairly strict judicial practice regarding violations in the sphere of protection of children from sexual exploitation and violence, including cases of distribution of child pornography on the Internet. For the commission of crimes of this kind, criminal responsibility is provided with a significant number of years of imprisonment.

Legal, economic, cultural features

Legal, economic and cultural characteristics of each country determine the level of protection of children from harmful content on the Internet. Ukraine is no exception, and its legislation contains provisions on the protection of children from sexual exploitation and violence.

The Criminal Code of Ukraine contains articles that provide for criminal liability for the distribution of child pornography and sexual exploitation of children. The legislation also establishes requirements for blocking access to harmful content on the Internet by ISPs and other media service providers.

Economic features also affect the protection of children from harmful content on the Internet. Most content blocking programs and applications are free, but there are also commercial programs with more features.

The cultural characteristics of the country are also important in protecting children from harmful content on the Internet. For example, countries with conservative values may have more restrictive content blocking requirements.

Four funny judicial examples from the lives of clients

In practice, situations arise when business owners, without even knowing about it, acquire a sloppy reputation due to attempts to circumvent the legislation on blocking harmful content on the Internet, in particular, child pornography. Here are some funny examples:

During the war in Ukraine, in particular in the temporarily occupied territories, the problem of access to harmful content on the Internet, including child pornography, became particularly relevant. The occupiers and their supporters use the information space to propagate their ideas and misinform the population.

The Government of Ukraine has taken several measures to combat this problem. It has blocked access to harmful content at the level of ISPs and other media service providers. The government also provides access to free content blocking programs and campaigns to raise public awareness of the risks of accessing harmful content on the Internet, including child pornography.

However, the problem of accessing harmful content on the Internet in the temporarily occupied territories remains urgent. Some citizens use virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass blocking, so it is necessary to strengthen control over this type of activity.

Conclusion

Despacho Internacional “Intereses legítimos” is a reliable legal partner that can provide professional assistance in cases related to the blocking of harmful content on the Internet, in particular child pornography. The company offers legal advice and support in court cases related to this issue.