Protecting children’s privacy online: a critical look to four European self-regulatory initiatives

摘要: This article examines the rise of self-regulatory initiatives as private governance mechanisms adopted by Internet industry in EU to protect children’s privacy online. It analyses four specific focusing on procedural (rule formulation, monitoring, enforcement) and organizational (organizational structures, role public actors) aspects, order reflect strengths shortcomings process. The analysis shows significant limitations self-regulation area online child safety, characterized broadly formulated statements unmeasurable commitments, limited monitoring often inexistent sanctions. is argued that sector-specific, institutionalized European codes conduct, which disentangle protection safety policy aims, could better safeguard children dynamic multi-jurisdictional, multi-stakeholder dominated environment. Keywords: children; Union; risks; privacy; self-regulation; soft law