Expert Commission on the Protection of Children and Young People in the Digital World presents its review

On 20 April, the independent expert commission on ‘Child and Youth Protection in the Digital World’ published its comprehensive review.
This review forms the evidence-based foundation for specific recommendations for action, which are currently being drawn up and are due to be presented at the end of June 2026.

The report analyses key aspects of the protection of children and young people in the digital world. The focus is on the digital environments and risks faced by children and young people, the potential for participation offered by new technologies, existing structures for media education and prevention, and the legal framework, including its practical enforcement.
Marc Liesching, Professor of Media Law at HTWK, contributes his expertise as a member of the commission.

Key findings of the review

Digital environments: opportunities and risks are closely intertwined

Digital media are an integral part of young people’s everyday lives. Smartphones provide the main gateway to communication, information, entertainment and, increasingly, artificial intelligence applications. The review shows that the risks are diverse and often intertwined. These include, in particular:

1. Interaction risks such as cyberbullying, hate speech or cost traps
2. sexualised violence in the digital space, for example through cybergrooming or AI-generated content
3. manipulative platform mechanisms (‘dark patterns’) that are specifically designed to encourage excessive use and the disclosure of data
4. new risks posed by AI systems, such as deepfakes, disinformation or simulated social interaction

At the same time, digital spaces and new technologies offer significant opportunities – for example, for social participation, identity development and personalised learning. The aim is to ensure that children and young people can participate safely in the digital world.

Media literacy and prevention: diverse, but not universal

Media education takes place in Germany in a variety of contexts – in families, nurseries, schools and out-of-school programmes. This diversity is fundamentally a strength.
At the same time, the current assessment reveals clear structural shortcomings:

1. Programmes are not available nationwide and are often not compulsory
2. quality varies depending on the federal state, institution and individual professionals
3. Support systems for parents and professionals are fragmented
4. early childhood, in particular, has so far been given too little systematic attention

The Commission emphasises that media literacy plays a key role and must be systematically strengthened.

Legal framework: Comprehensive, but with shortcomings in implementation

The protection of children and young people in the digital space is governed by numerous sets of regulations at European and national level, in particular the Digital Services Act (DSA) and supplementary national laws such as the Youth Protection Act and the State Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the Media. The review also identifies shortcomings in implementation as a key challenge. 
The following aspects are assessed as particularly critical:

1. inadequate age verification
2. the limited effectiveness of existing monitoring and enforcement mechanisms

Keeping an eye on inequalities and new dynamics

The review also shows that risks do not affect all children equally. Factors such as age, social circumstances or psychological stress significantly influence vulnerability. Added to this are dynamic developments driven by new technologies, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence, the effects of which on children and young people have not yet been sufficiently researched.

Next steps: Recommendations for action to follow in June 2026

The Commission has deliberately refrained from presenting specific recommendations in this review. The aim is first to establish a common, scientifically sound foundation. On this basis, the Commission is currently drawing up specific recommendations for action, which will be presented at the end of June 2026. The Commission will present its final report in mid-September.

Background
The expert commission, established in September 2025, works independently and on an evidence-based basis. The stock-take marks the first key milestone in its work and forms the basis for a comprehensive, forward-looking strategy to protect and empower children and young people in the digital world. It examines existing structures for media education and prevention, as well as the legal framework, including its practical enforcement.