Byron Report on children's safety in digital environment published | Practical Law
Following Dr Tanya Byron's six-month review into children and new technology, the Byron Report, Safer Children in the Digital World, has been published. The Report includes a comprehensive set of recommendations for government, industry, schools, parents and children to reduce the risks to children when accessing digital information and playing video games. One of the key proposals is the establishment of a UK Council for Child Internet Safety (the Council) that would report directly to the Prime Minister. Other recommendations include the development of a monitored voluntary code on the moderation of user-generated content; a new classification system for video games; and consideration by the Council of the uncertainty surrounding the availability of defences to internet service providers for hosting content. Although the Report has been criticised by some as over-ambitious, it does provide the basis for increased and improved communication between regulators, stakeholders and users.