BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – As the European Commission reviews the recommendations of the Special Panel on Child Safety Online, the Association for Competitive Technology (ACT) calls on policymakers to ensure that new child safety rules do not end up penalising the small tech companies that are building helpful solutions for families and educators.
‘Protecting children online is essential, but we must avoid a one-size-fits-all approach that undermines the innovative tools for learning, recreation, and health that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are building. Any new measure must reflect the reality of the ecosystem and target where the real problems are’, stressed Mike Sax, founder and chairperson of ACT.
ACT urges policymakers to consider the following:
- Future measures should be proportionate and balanced, clearly distinguishing between major social media networks and other digital services
- Because startups and SMEs also create educational apps and interactive learning tools, future regulations should not burden these small innovators
- Any measures to protect children online should be founded upon evidence, taking a risk-based approach.
We are committed to protecting children online and look forward to engaging with the Commission to achieve these objectives.
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About the Association for Competitive Technology:
ACT is a global trade association for small and medium-sized technology companies. Our members are entrepreneurs, innovators, and independent developers within the global app ecosystem that engage with verticals across every industry. We work with our members to promote a policy environment that rewards and inspires innovation while providing resources that help our members raise capital, create jobs, and continue to build incredible technology.