Maria da Graça Carvalho co-signed the recently launched Written Declaration concerning generic Top-Level Domains targeting children (e.g. ".kids"). The DotKids initiative represents a good starting point to engage the global network in the creation of a Kids-Friendly cyberspace.
Ms Carvalho believes that the ".kids" domain, as proposed by the DotKids Foundation, has the potential to not only create an appropriately protected space where it is fun for children to learn and to acquire knowledge, but also a space to nurture future generations of responsible netizens.
In a process aimed at "enhancing competition" ICANN, the global body overseeing the Internet domain name system is set to add many new generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) to the Internet (e.g. .app, .home, etc.). Among them is ".kids" and some other children-related domains, which, without proper safeguards and driven by commercial interests, will put children around the world at imminent risk.
The written declaration ensures that ".kids" (and/or TLDs targeting or highly related to children) must adopt the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which is ratified by all Member States of the EU and the most ratified convention in the family of human rights treaties; that children welfare and rights are not compromised in the governance of the ".kids" space; and, that the ".kids" TLD will be operated in the best interests of the child and not driven by commercial motivations.
Without the intervention supported by the declaration, the "market driven" ICANN process could put ".kids" on the auction block for the highest bidder. The European Commission is a member of the ICANN Government Advisory Committee (GAC) and in a position to advice the ICANN board on this matter. This declaration would provide important impetus for the Commission at ICANN.
This declaration will make a difference and a positive impact on children for generations to come.