Children's Rights Should Guide Japan's Online Safety Policy

Click to expand Image A child using a cellphone. © 2021 Press Association via AP Photo In June, a working group at Japan's Internal Affairs Ministry declined to endorse a blanket age-based social media ban for children, saying it was "not desirable." Although the group’s report is not yet final, its rejection of a blanket ban suggests a willingness to consider alternative approaches to protecting children online. As Human Rights Watch said in our response, online safety measures should respect c