Project Beacon
Placing children’s rights into the heart of the EU’s digital policy
Creating a safer world for children online
Project Beacon is ECPAT’s initiative to make sure children’s rights are at the centre of digital policy – especially in the European Union. It was launched in response to policy changes that risked making the internet less safe for children. Through research, advocacy, and collaboration, Project Beacon works to build online spaces where children are safe, respected, and heard.
Research
Disrupting Harm is a partnership with INTERPOL and UNICEF Innocenti. It gathers children’s insights and data from 25 countries across 6 regions to better understand the risks and context of online child sexual exploitation.
Advocacy
Child Safety ON! is a campaign that calls on tech companies, online platforms, and EU leaders to step up and build a safer digital world for children.
Collaboration
We’re working with civil society, governments, and private sector partners to design strong policies, build safer platforms, and ensure survivor support. Learn more about our latest activities. Want to get involved? Contact us.
Research
VOICE is a child participation research in collaboration with Eurochild and Terre Des Hommes Netherlands. It gathers insights from children from 15 countries in the world, with a heavy focus on the European Union, to understand the experiences and needs of children online. Access the Child Friendly version & the summary in 15 languages.
Opinions
We are working with external partners to poll the EU citizens on their opinions and attitudes around child safety online. Read the latest opinions of EU citizens.
The challenge: safer online spaces for children everywhere
The internet is a space for learning, creativity, and connection but it also exposes children to serious harm including sexual exploitation and abuse.
We’re working to change that. Our goal is to make sure online spaces are safe by design, and that children’s voices are included in the laws and decisions that affect them. Our advocacy is already shaping EU policy, and momentum is growing.
We’re calling for tech companies, platforms and lawmakers to:
- Prevent Abuse: EU policies must have strong legal definitions of consent, all organisations and individuals working with children should follow child-safeguarding standards, and everyone working with or for children should be required to complete child protection training.
- Build in safety: Online platforms must assess the risks of child sexual exploitation and abuse and design their services to prevent it.
- Enforce the rules. Platforms should be legally required to find, report, and take down child sexual exploitation and abuse.
- Create an EU centre to lead the response. We need a dedicated centre that brings together police, tech experts, NGOs, and support services to tackle online child abuse.
- Use safe, transparent detection methods. Platforms must use trusted tools, like hashing technology, and be open about how they protect users, including children.
- Support survivors. Children who have experienced online child sexual exploitation and abuse must have access to timely justice and appropriate support – both in the EU and globally. Learn more about the Timeless Justice Campaign. Together we can create a safer world for children.
