International Children's Day: Digital security is a global challenge

International Children's Day is a reminder to the whole world that childhood needs to be protected, especially in a rapidly changing digital reality. Today, millions of children around the world are growing up online — and face risks that society is not yet fully prepared for. For the Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment, this day is not a holiday, but a call to action, a symbol of our daily work to create a safe and ethical digital space.

Russia's experience in the field of digital child protection is currently attracting growing interest from the international community. The mechanisms, methods, and approaches developed by the Alliance and its partners are in demand abroad, which is why a broad international coalition is forming around the initiative in 2025.

On June 6, within the framework of the Global Digital Forum in Nizhny Novgorod, a Memorandum of Cooperation on creating a safe digital environment for children will be signed. This document has already brought together 22 organizations from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe, from civil associations to educational and technological structures.

Elizaveta Belyakova, Chairman of the Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment, emphasizes: "The signing of the memorandum is not a one—time event, but an important stage in building a global community that focuses on the rights and safety of children in the digital world. We see that our Russian experience is in demand. People come to us for knowledge, solutions, and practices. And we are ready to share them so that children anywhere in the world feel not defenseless online, but heard and protected."

The Memorandum lays the foundations for practical cooperation, from the exchange of analytics and best practices to the joint development of digital solutions such as content filters, platforms for digital education, and support services for parents and educators. Special attention is paid to the formation of responsible behavior on the Internet, the prevention of digital addiction and the emotional stability of children. The need for cooperation with business, harmonization of regulatory approaches, and creation of sustainable international platforms for the exchange of experience and the development of common ethical standards is emphasized.

Today, the risks online are universal: cyberbullying, manipulative algorithms, destructive communities, data leakage, and the involvement of teenagers in illegal activities. But the answer to these challenges is impossible alone. We need international coordination and a joint strategy.

Childhood is a universal value, and its protection cannot be limited by borders. The Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment continues to promote the idea that digital security should become a common priority, from the local to the global level.