Safeguarding Children in the Digital Age
ILMA Foundation's Submission on the Draft Child Online Safety Policy for Mauritius
This report has been prepared by ILMA Foundation in direct response to the public consultation initiated by the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation (MITCI) on the Draft Child Online Safety Policy for Mauritius.
The advent of digital technologies has fundamentally reshaped the environment in which children grow, learn, and interact. While the internet offers immense educational, social, and developmental opportunities, it simultaneously exposes minors to a spectrum of online risks, including exploitation, harmful content, and breaches of privacy.
In this context, the safeguarding of children online emerges not only as a national priority but also as an international human rights obligation.
In addressing these challenges, it is essential that child protection measures are carefully calibrated to preserve fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, the right to access information, the right to privacy, and parental authority. An effective child online safety framework must strike an appropriate balance: ensuring that children are shielded from online harms while upholding their rights and supporting informed parental engagement.