"Kinderseiten und DSGVO: Das geht gut!"

The brochure “Kinderseiten und DSGVO: Das geht gut! [Websites for Children and the GDPR: That Works Well!“] provides information and assistance on the GDPR implementation for providers of online content for children. It was written by the German Association for Voluntary Self-Regulation of Digital Media Service Providers (FSM) in close cooperation with Dr. Stephan Dreyer, fragFINN e.V. and Seitenstark e.V. and supported by the Commissioner of the Federal Government for Culture and Media (BKM).

• Publication available as download (pdf)

The publication addresses in particular providers of online content for children such as websites, apps and other digital offerings. The new regulations of the EU General Data Protection Regulation are explained in a way that is also understandable for laypersons. The obligations for providers are listed in a checklist with step-by-step instructions. The instructions for action for implementing them can be analysed on the basis of the content and functions of one' s own offerings and revised in line with data protection requirements. In this way, the handbook bundles well-founded legal information in a media pedagogical context for the diverse digital offerings for children in Germany.

From the Press Release of the FSM:

Providers of online content for children make a significant contribution to children's first positive online experiences. The aim of the brochure is also to raise the awareness of providers for online data protection. As a result, this topic also attracts the attention of their target groups children, young people as well as parents and pedagogical experts. The guidelines also contain extensive references to further information and contact points for advice as well as positive examples. Further information: www.fsm.de/de/datenschutz-bei-kinderangeboten.

The brochure was compiled in close cooperation with the following partners: fragFINN e.V., Hans-Bredow-Institut for Media Research and Seitenstark e.V.. The project is funded by the Commissioner of the Federal Government for Culture and Media (BKM).

Martin Drechsler, Managing Director FSM e.V.: “As FSM, we have seen a great need for low-threshold offers of information about the GDPR, especially among providers of online content for children. Especially non-profit or public funded initiatives are dependent on publicly available information material and assistance. Our brochure starts right there.“

Anke Meinders, Managing Director fragFINN e.V.: “fragFINN has always been committed to positive children's offers nationwide, which enable children to have their first harmless, safe and diverse online experiences along their interests. This involves a great deal of responsibility, which is why providers of online content for children must also be met and supported in the implementation of their offers in compliance with data protection regulations.“

Dr. Stephan Dreyer, Senior Researcher at the Hans-Bredow-Institut: “Many of the providers of children's offers on the Internet are overwhelmed by the complexity of the GDPR and the widely scattered information about it. The brochure can help in a practical way to make the own offers compliant with data protection and to take the worries of possible legal infringements away from the providers.“

Helga Kleinen, Chairwoman of Seitenstark e.V.: “Since January 2016, wir-machen-kinderseiten.de, the support and communication service of Seitenstark for children's website operators, has been offering the service series " Datenschutz auf Webseiten [Data protection on Websites]" with background information, explanatory and sample texts free of charge. The service series was updated in spring 2018 in cooperation with the law firm iRights.law, which specialises in digital media, with regard to the DSGVO. We are pleased to make this offer further known through the FSM brochure.“