Algeria strengthens digital protection for children with a comprehensive approach

The Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Sayed Ali Zerrougui, revealed a comprehensive strategy to protect children and vulnerable groups from the dangers of the Internet in Algeria.

In his response to a parliamentary question by MP Jeddou Rabah, the minister pointed out that Algeria has achieved a qualitative leap in the field of Internet connectivity, as the number of homes connected to fixed Internet has exceeded 6.7 million homes, while mobile Internet subscriptions have reached more than 52 million subscriptions.

The Ministry adopted an integrated strategy based on two main axes: the preventive and guidance aspect, which included organizing expanded national campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of misuse of the Internet, and launching a web platform specializing in family and childhood protection, in addition to publishing awareness-raising content via social media on vital topics such as the dangers of video games, piracy, and addiction to screens. As for the operational and technical aspect, it included providing a parental control service by the three mobile phone operators, which allows guardians to control the websites and applications they access. Their children, with complete filtering of content inappropriate for children.

Sayed Ali Zerrouqi revealed the launch of an expanded consultation with all concerned parties to prepare a road paper on websites containing content that violates public morals and national values, with the assistance of the National Economic, Social and Environmental Council to conduct a comprehensive evaluation study.

At the level of electronic games, the Ministry held meetings with international pioneers in this field, which resulted in an agreement to create a safe gaming environment that takes into account the peculiarities of Algerian society, adapting content to be in line with national culture, while strengthening parental control mechanisms.

The Minister concluded by referring to the Algeria Declaration on the Governance of Digital Platforms on the African Continent, which was launched early last December, and which aims to confront the challenges of global digital platforms and confirm the digital sovereignty of the continent. It received broad support from the ministers participating in the ministerial summit hosted by Algeria.