Technical protection of minors in the media

Providers can prevent access to broadcasting or telemedia content liable to impair the development of minors using time restrictions or technical means. In telemedia, an age rating that can be read by suitable technical systems for the protection of minors can be used. Certain types of inadmissible content may only be disseminated in telemedia due to their greater potential for harm and then only under one condition: the setting up of closed user groups using age verification systems. Cross-channel concepts deal with both levels of potential harm.

Broadcasting and telemedia providers may disseminate contents likely to impair the development of children and adolescents on certain conditions: they must put in place technical or other measures to ensure that children and adolescents cannot normally view these offerings.

It is not necessary for these contents to be totally inaccessible to the affected age groups: in the case of offerings that may impair minors' development, it is sufficient that access is made significantly difficult. A provider can fulfil its duty, for example, by complying with the usual transmission time restrictions (see JSS (protection of minors' statute)):

• Suitable for adults (from 18): dissemination of the offering only between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
• Suitable from age 16: dissemination of the offering only between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
• Suitable from age 12: dissemination of the offering only between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

In addition, the providers can use technical means, or in the telemedia age ratings , that can be read by suitable technical systems for the protection of minors in order to fulfil their legal obligations.

Inadmissible offerings may not be disseminated in broadcasting and telemedia on principle. With one exception:

Certain types of inadmissible content may be disseminated in telemedia if the setting up of closed user groups ensures that children and adolescents cannot access them. In the case of these so-called "relatively inadmissible contents", the level of protection is therefore considerably higher than for contents impairing development. Providers can set up closed user groups by using age verification systems.

Besides concepts for the protection of minors involving closed user groups or technical means, providers can submit technical concepts for the protection of minors comprising a combination of measures involving different protection levels to KJM for assessment, so-called "cross-channel concepts for the protection of minors".

These usually cover convergent media offerings, comprising media services and broadcasting programmes. Depending on the issues of the protection of minors involved, these concepts comprise graduated technical protection measures, frequently taking into account both broadcasting and telemedia contents at the same time. To spur on the enforcement of cross-channel measures for the protection of minors, particularly in convergent media offerings, and to provide certainty to providers with respect to legal requirements and planning, the KJM makes use of its process of positive assessment in this area as well.