Protection of children enhanced by laws, courts

China has continued to enhance online protection of children in recent years, making every effort to clean up cyberspace and improve the quality of case handling.

On June 1, 2021, the newly revised Minor Protection Law took effect, with a dedicated chapter on online protection added to further refine the country's child protection system in the rapidly developing digital age.

The chapter addresses public concerns regarding the management of online information, the protection of minors' personal data, and cyberbullying. It also tackles major issues related to youngsters, such as addiction to online games, livestreaming and short videos.

For example, it clarifies that internet platforms and operators should not offer products or services that induce minors' addiction, and urges providers of online games and livestreaming to implement time-management controls and other functions tailored for youngsters using their services.

It also requires online platforms to establish channels for users to quickly report harmful information and promptly remove or deal with inappropriate content involving minors.

In addition, it emphasizes that no individual or organization should engage in cyberbullying against minors through text, images, audio or video in the form of insults, defamation, threats or malicious damage to their reputation.

To ensure the implementation of the amended law, especially the chapter, the State Council, China's cabinet, made a specific regulation on online protection of minors, which came into effect in January 2024.

Under the regulation, the responsibilities of government departments, schools, families, and online platforms are further specified.

For instance, enterprises are ordered to install software for online protection of minors on their services or products before they are launched, and establish early warning systems for cyberbullying.

While enhancing protection of minors in cyberspace through legislation, judges have also provided stronger legal education for students to guide them in surfing the internet in a more sensible and civilized manner.

In April, judges from the first civil division of the Mingguang people's court in Anhui province visited a local primary school to introduce laws and cases to students, teaching them how to strengthen self-protection on the internet and deal with cyberbullying.

Last month, the Beijing Internet Court and Changning District People's Court in Shanghai reached an agreement to jointly build a judicial collaboration station for online protection of minors.

This station aims to leverage the strengths of both courts in the fields of the internet and juvenile trials to give strong protection of children's rights and interests in the digital age, and prevent their involvement in illegal activities.

Data released by the internet court showed that from June 2021 to May 2024, it handled 597 civil disputes involving minors. With the increasing online activities of minors, lawsuits over online service contracts and online infringement are also growing.

For example, the court has solved game recharge and livestreaming reward refund cases caused by youngsters' irrational consumption, as well as lawsuits involving infringement of minors' reputation rights on internet platforms.

Zhao Ruigang, vice-president of the court, urged online platforms, especially those involving livestreaming and games, to clean up harmful information and ensure real-name registration.

Zhao also suggested parents and schools provide more care and guidance to minors through companionship, and a variety of activities to reduce children's online time and create a safer online environment.

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