UCC urges mobile operators on App for child protection

Dec 16, 2014

Telecommunications regulator, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), has urged local mobile operators to offer a free new application, Guardian App, to its clients as a measure to protect children from online abuse

By Alfred Wandera  

Telecommunications regulator, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), has urged local mobile operators to offer a free new application, Guardian App, to its clients as a measure to protect children from online abuse.


UCC communications manager, Fred Otunnu, made the call Monday at the ongoing two-day Africa Child Online Protection Summit at Speke Commonwealth Resort, Munyonyo.

Otunnu’s call followed a presentation by Safaricom’s Senior Manager in charge of Sustainable and Social Policy, Karen Basiye, on the inventions undertaken by the Kenyan telecommunications company to avert the risks of internet abuses to children.

“We are open to embracing best practices being undertaken elsewhere that can help us combat child online protection. Safaricom’s initiative is very good and we (UCC) would be happy if our local mobile operators adopted it to apply to our local context,” said Otunnu.

Basiye said Guardian is a free and easy to use App that helps to keep children safe when using their smartphones.
 
“With Guardian you can choose who can call your child and set permitted hours for calling. You can also protect your child from unwanted SMS and control when they can receive SMS and also restrict or block functions including internet connection, bluetooth, calling, camera, video and apps,” said Basiye.

She added: “The App also helps to prevent your child from downloading, installing and using other Apps and lets you know if your child uninstalls Guardian. It offers settings to help block unwanted messages and calls such as bullying and prank calls.”

She said in partnership with Vodafone, Safaricom launched the smartphone App last year to allow parents restrict the content that can be accessed by children.
 
However, she added that the use of the App calls for education of children about safe smartphone usage and content which might be harmful.

“This App is available for everyone (some restrictions apply) and it’s free to download and use,” said Basiye.

Otunnu said although Uganda has some regulations such as Anti-Pornography Act, 2014, Uganda Computer Misuse Act, 2011 and Uganda Communications Act, 2013, they have scattered guidelines on child online protection, hence the need to have detailed regulations that spell out how the available laws should be operationalized.

“We need a comprehensive law that is strictly focused on child online protection. We can call it ‘Child Online Protection Act’ because many countries across the world have the same law,” said Otunnu.

However, Otunnu said technology alone will not unpuzzle the child protection jinx if there is no proper parentage to children right from home.

“We are the same parents who buy the devices and airtime for our children. The first line of defence is parents then the laws and technical applications should complement each other,” said Otunnu.

Simon Milner, Facebook Policy Director for UK and Asia, said safety is their number one priority since Facebook is the most commonly used social media across the globe.

“In Africa, over 100 million people use Facebook regularly and 80 million people use it on mobile devices. We have put restrictions that a child below 13 years cannot be allowed to open a Facebook account,” said Milner.

In 2008, International Telecommunications Union, (ITU), the United Nations specialized agency for ICTs, to which Uganda is a member, launched the Child Online Protection (COP) Initiative as a multi-stakeholder effort within the Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA) framework.

The initiative brings together partners from all sectors of the global community to create a safe and empowering online experience for children around the world.

COP takes a holistic approach to promoting child online safety, developing strategies that span five key areas – legal measures, technical and procedural measures, organizational structures, capacity building and international cooperation.

The initiative works with partners to develop cybersecurity strategies across the above areas and promote safe online environments for children around the world.

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