Le Figaro – The edition of the 2022 Paris Peace Forum marks this Thursday, November 10, the initiative of several technology players such as Amazon, Google and Microsoft to protect children on the Internet. Why such a statute?
Henri Verdier: In fact, it is not just a statute, but a program that we will go to over time. The Internet opens up incredible potential for access to culture, empowerment of communities, and scientific or economic innovation, but there are many challenges that need to be addressed. The French position, supported by the president, is for private players to be part of the solution. We have already seen this in the Digital Services Act adopted by Europe this year. When it comes to youth in particular, we face many challenges. The purpose of this Charter is to commit the signatory companies to test the solutions by running a common laboratory for the signatories.
Le Figaro: How exactly will this laboratory be organized?
Henri Verdier: The lab will generate and gather ideas for strategies to address this issue of protecting children online. Ideas can be proposed by companies or NGOs themselves or even by states or researchers. They will be pre-validated by a selection committee composed mainly of academics and researchers. Signing the charter entails two obligations for the signatory companies. The first, for a partner company, involves testing an idea each year that is proposed to solve the difficulties associated with the protection of minors on the Internet. The second commitment concerns the evaluation of the solution tested within their company by an independent government institute after one year. If the mentioned experience is positive, and if necessary, it can lead to a general settlement.
Le Figaro – Is the idea of a unified statute and laboratory for testing solutions limiting private companies enough?
Henri Verdier: This lab is designed as a space to encourage private companies to adopt solutions on their own rather than being forced to regulate. We are convinced that we need to work together to find good solutions. However, if we do not offer effective solutions, we will regulate. Already after a year, we will make the first point about the laboratory to observe whether the signatory companies are committed to their game or not.
Moreover, it is a good space for innovations. Thus, the Studer Law, published on March 2, 2022, obliges manufacturers of connected devices (smartphones, tablets) to install parental controls to limit access to certain websites. It will be interesting to check whether this device, in addition to its main function, allows service providers to develop new approaches to age control.
According to an Ifop survey for Le Figaro- France Info, 22% of 18-24 year olds say they have already been the target of online harassment. Will the subjects covered by the lab apply to this age group?
Henri Verdier: This will undoubtedly be part of the decisions that the signatories of the charter will have to make together. Especially since it is a laboratory open to everyone. In particular, I would like to emphasize this to the digital freedom activists who are very often dealing with these issues.
Le Figaro – You say it is a laboratory open to all. Do you think there are no players at the charter signing today?
Henri Verdier: We have seen this in previous initiatives such as the Christchurch Call or the 2018 Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace; membership extends well beyond the launch date. Of course, we want to see other companies join us, like Twitter or Apple. We also hope to encourage more people from the online video game community to come and participate in this online child protection lab.
Le Figaro – This day ends with a dinner about the fragmentation of the Internet. Can you say more?
Henri Verdier: The president wanted an exchange with digital thinkers or key players such as Tim Berners-Lee, the main inventor of the World Wide Web, to discuss citizen re-invention and democratic control of the Internet. We are aware that states alone cannot decide on digital regulation. On the other hand, we are convinced that it is necessary to develop joint management of states, companies, researchers and civil society in the model of the UN Internet Governance Forum with high democratic standards.
In addition, two other sequences on digital technologies will take place at the Paris Peace Forum on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th. One concerns the Paris Call for Cybersecurity, an international call in 2018 to make progress on digital cybersecurity. On Saturday, a working session will be held on access to data for research joined by Microsoft and Dailymotion to combat terrorist content online. The work in question refers, in particular, to the problem of targeted advertising, which will contribute to the radicalization of opinions.
Source: Le Figaro
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.