Barnevakten gave the minister guidelines for children’s use of the internet

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Before the Solberg government left in the autumn, it adopted a new national plan to keep children safe online. Barnevakten and many other actors have made their contributions to the strategy, which for the first time aims to bring together government initiatives across ministries. The effort will help ensure that children who grow up in Norway can use the internet and at the same time be protected from harmful content.

When the new Støre government was inaugurated this autumn, Barnevakten requested a meeting with the new Minister for Children and Family Affairs Kjersti Toppe to encourage her to quickly address the strategy and plan measures and new policies that will contribute to a safer everyday life for children and young people online.

On 22 November 2021, Kjersti Toppe made an hour’s visit to the head office of Barnevakten to listen to Barnevakten’s perspective and be updated.

Photo: Barnevakten is a nonprofit foundation in the field of cybersecurity and children’s digital lives. From left: Kjellaug Tonheim Tønnesen (Professional Manager of Barnevakten), Kjersti Toppe (Minister for Children and Family Affairs), Leif Gunnar Vestbøstad Vik (CEO, Barnevakten) and Sveinung Nesheim (Sales and Marketing Manager, Barnevakten).

“We really appreciate Kjersti Toppe for visiting us to hear our experiences,” says Leif Gunnar Vestbøstad Vik, CEO of Barnevakten. “We look forward to having good cooperation with the new government.”

In the meeting, Toppe was encouraged to work actively to influence Norwegian and international media companies to take children and young people seriously when they develop media products for children. Through legislation, the Norwegian government can make Norwegian companies make ethical assessments when developing products games, apps, and other media-related technology aimed at children.

“Such an active policy in Norway may also influence international companies operating in the EU and the US,” says Vik.

Barnevakten also wants the Norwegian authorities to make more commitments regarding proper online use in local communities throughout Norway in collaboration between non-profit and public actors such as schools.

“Barnevakten has contributed to a pilot project in Lier municipality through the police council model. Here we work with the business community, the police, and the municipal agencies to share knowledge, focus on online life skills and prevent cybercrime where children and young people can be affected on both sides of the table. The experience from Lier can be exciting to bring into other communes. When sensible internet use is put into a larger system, it becomes easier to prevent in the long term,” Vik said in the meeting with the Minister for Children and Family Affairs.

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(Published on 23 November 2021 and translated by Ratan)