Author Archives: John Carr

About John Carr

John Carr is one of the world's leading authorities on children's and young people's use of digital technologies. He is Senior Technical Adviser to Bangkok-based global NGO ECPAT International, Technical Adviser to the European NGO Alliance for Child Safety Online, which is administered by Save the Children Italy and an Advisory Council Member of Beyond Borders (Canada). Amongst other things John is or has been an Adviser to the United Nations, ITU, the European Union, the Council of Europe and European Union Agency for Network and Information Security and is a former Board Member of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety. He is Secretary of the UK's Children's Charities' Coalition on Internet Safety. John has advised many of the world's largest internet companies on online child safety. In June, 2012, John was appointed a Visiting Senior Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science. More: http://johncarrcv.blogspot.com

Children’s groups speak out

Posted on September 9, 2020

The EU held a consultation on the upcoming Digital Services Act. It closed yesterday. Here is a link to the document I submitted with the support of one or more children’s groups from 15 Member States. What with the holiday … Continue reading →

Posted in Age verification, Child abuse images, Consent, Default settings, E-commerce, Internet governance, Pornography, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation

The EU’s Digital Services Act

Posted on August 26, 2020

On 8th September an EU consultation closes. It concerns a proposed new Digital Services Act (DSA). The Act will provide a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change the internet’s ground rules. Children’s advocates need to get busy. Reforming the e-Commerce Directive In … Continue reading →

Posted in Default settings, Internet governance, Regulation, Self-regulation

Beware the harmful algorithm

Posted on August 16, 2020

These past few days British media outlets have been full of stories about the scandalous way 17 and 18 year olds have been dealt with following the cancellation of ‘A’ Level exams because of the virus. At the root of … Continue reading →

Posted in Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation, Uncategorized

“Good Pictures Bad Pictures”

Posted on August 13, 2020

I have just finished “Good Pictures Bad Pictures. Porn proofing today’s young kids.” by Kristen Jenson. I have to say, right off, the book is excellent. It is not preachy, moralising or judgemental. In crisp, clear and concise prose it describes … Continue reading →

Posted in Age verification, Pornography, Regulation, Self-regulation

Age verification. Movement in South Africa

Posted on August 4, 2020

The South African Film Board is charged with developing regulations to give effect to their recently adopted law requiring age verification for pornography sites. A consultation was held on how the regulations might be implemented. It closed yesterday. After thanking … Continue reading →

Posted in Age verification, Pornography, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation

The EU’s strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse

Posted on July 26, 2020

I said in an earlier blog I would write more fully about the announcement last week of the European Commission’ s new strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse. I wrote that when I had only skimmed … Continue reading →

Posted in Child abuse images, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation, Uncategorized

Facebook’s very poor example

Posted on July 25, 2020

I have lost count of the number of times child safety advocates from around the world have got in touch with me because, in relation to something they think is important and urgent locally, they cannot get any response from … Continue reading →

Posted in E-commerce, Facebook, Regulation, Self-regulation

The agony and the ecstasy – all in the same day

Posted on July 24, 2020

Regular readers will recall last year I got very engaged with discussions on the new e-Privacy Regulation being drawn up in Brussels. They were threatening to outlaw the use of PhotoDNA and similar tools by certain types of electronic communications … Continue reading →

Posted in Child abuse images, Default settings, Microsoft, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation | 1 Comment

Age verification marches on

Posted on July 21, 2020

This week saw the publication of a report of a conference which I organized with the help of The Reward Foundation. What did we look at? With the enormous advances that have been made in recent years in the field … Continue reading →

Posted in Age verification, Pornography, Privacy, Regulation, Self-regulation

The Government lost in court today

Posted on July 16, 2020

The Government lost in court today. Yippee! The age verification companies won the right to proceed with a Judicial Review of the Secretary of State’s decision not to proceed with the implementation of age verification. What will the Government do … Continue reading →