Digital age of consent presents an online quandary

THE Government says deciding on a digital age of consent threshold is difficult because of a lack of uniformity on the issue.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten said he would listen to the views of a special committee looking at the matter, but he wanted to see parents empowered and aware of threats that children faced online.

His comments come after the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs heard there are massive risks to setting the age of digital consent at 13.

Oireachtas members were given a special presentation on the issue where calls were made for the age limit to be put at 16.

The meeting heard “the train has left the station” in terms of regulating the sales of smartphones to children – and other avenues must be explored to protect children from online abuse.

Cyberpsychologist Dr Mary Aiken told the meeting she has never been so concerned about the online threats facing children. She added that the digital age of consent must be increased to protect children from being caught in vulnerable scenarios online.

Professor Barry O’Sullivan, director of the Insight Centre for Data Analytics at University College Cork, said that social media platforms should be held responsible for how their platforms were used and verifying the age of users.

Mr Naughten said he was willing to listen to views on the matter, and said educating parents was key to protecting children.

He added: “The decision was taken at a threshold of 13, we have to set the bar at a point in relation to this and I know that there has been some debate over the last number of days.

“We are listening to those issues, but remember there is not a uniform view on this right across the sector.

“I think what we all need to do is make parents far more aware of the issues; we have to work with industry as well.”