Read Part One Here and Part Two Here
Introduction
In many respects, the internet has become a very important part of children’s lives. As they continue to spend considerable amounts of time online, be it for educational or entertainment purposes, it is important to consider and respect their rights in the digital world.
In a March 2021 report, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child called for attention to the best interests of children on the internet and to the rights of children online, particularly their rights to search, gather and publish digital content, while protecting them from harm.
Iran’s Move Towards Restricting Children’s Digital Rights
Internet control measures to be used in the interest of children through measures such as blocking websites containing inappropriate content (e.g. pornography) through Parental Controls has been accepted worldwide based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Most operating systems, many softwares, and social media websites such as YouTube and GooglePlay, have capabilities built in to personalize access to specific types of content in order to limit access to types deemed unsuitable for children which can be operated and set by adults.
Using these tools, parents and guardians can monitor their children’s online activities and keep them away from sexual, violent and other inappropriate content, depending on their age group, family values and culture.
However, the limitations imposed on children’s access to information by the Iranian government have been devised and implemented in such a manner that not only violate the Convention on the Rights of the Child but also the country’s constitutional guarantees on accessing information and freedom to speak one’s mother tongue.
Article 13.1 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Majles (Parliament) in 1993, states: “The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child’s choice.”
Also under Article 14.1-3:
“ 1. State Parties shall respect the right of the child to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
- States Parties shall respect the rights and duties of the parents and, when applicable, legal guardians, to provide direction to the child in the exercise of his or her right in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child.
- Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.”
However, In Iran, the determination of the extent of children’s access to online content is not made by parents or guardians, but by mobile network operators.
In addition, based on Article 15 of Iran’s Constitution, “the use of regional and tribal languages in the press and media, as well as for teaching of their literature in schools, in addition to Persian is permitted.”
Iranian authorities’ statements in favor of a “secure internet” for children ring very similar to earlier efforts to defend the government’s blocking of online content they deemed ‘inappropriate’ or ‘immoral’ for public consumption. Is the Iranian government attempting to treat all Iranians as children who need supervision or are their plans a passing whim?
The state utilizes enormous resources to produce consistent and controlled content for children in collaboration with the Basij, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting organization (IRIB), the Islamic Development Organization and the Ministry of Education. In the process, private projects for children are sacrificed in favor of the state’s monopolistic and fundamentalist aspirations.
Despite denials, evidence shows that the Iranian authorities are hard at work to violate children’s digital rights in the following ways:
1- Based on the government’s resolution for “the expansion of healthy, safe and beneficial online space, especially for children and families,” children’s SIM cards primarily allow access to the National Information Network (NIN) with very little exposure to the worldwide internet, such as Google search. As such, children’s freedom to access information has been restricted by SIM cards based on guidelines set by lawmakers.
2- While calling for the development of a pure environment based on “Islamic culture,” the directive’s section on “NIN’s Wholesome and Secure Space” also emphasizes the use of Persian script and language.
Iranian authorities believe there is a need to create the children’s internet in order to “promote responsible and Islamic ethics and manners in services and products.” However, children’s internet has brought broad restrictions that ban access to much more than just inappropriate content, even news and information in local (e.g. Azeri, Kurdish, Arabic, Baluchi) and foreign (e.g. English and French) languages.
These policies are creating restrictions on children who speak any languages other than Persian or follow a religion other than Islam violates the rights of ethnic and religious minorties, as provided by Article 15 of Iran’s Constitution. At home, many Iranian children speak languages apart from Persian which is uniformly taught in public schools. Therefore, making Persian the official language on children’s SIM cards limits their access to information.
3- The resolution’s section on a ‘tiered or layered internet’ deals in part with accessing information based on users’ physical condition or characteristics . This would be admirable if the goal was to allow children with hearing or visual impairments easier and suitable access information. However, this ine once again intended to limit yet another group’s access to information, that would violate their right to equal access.
