چكيده لاتين
Abstract
The rapid developments of digital technologies in recent decades have created unprecedented opportunities for children’s education, entertainment, and social participation, while at the same time posing new risks. These include the extensive collection and analysis of behavioral and biological data, commercial profiling, the unintended disclosure of images and personal information, as well as online exploitation. Under such circumstances, children’s privacy grounded in the special status of childhood and the fundamental principles of human rights, particularly the principles of human dignity and the best interests of the child requires reinforced protection. The central issue of this study is that the current legal and policy framework in Iran for protecting children’s privacy in the digital environment is fragmented, general, and insufficiently effective against emerging technological challenges. Although constitutional and ordinary laws make reference to the safeguarding of privacy, there is no independent definition of children’s data, nor are adequate enforcement mechanisms provided. Compared to international standards and advanced legal experiences, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European union and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the United States, this situation reveals a significant gap. The findings of this research indicate that filling this gap requires a set of legislative and institutional reforms. These include the adoption of a comprehensive personal data protection law with a child-centered approach, the establishment of an independent authority overseeing privacy, the introduction of transparency and age-appropriate consent mechanisms, and the promotion of media literacy in schools and families. In addition, the active participation of the private sector and technology companies in designing safe, age-appropriate services, as well as international cooperation to address cross-border threats, are considered key elements in child-centered data governance. This study employs a descriptive analytical method, drawing upon international instruments, domestic laws, and the experiences of selected legal systems. The results demonstrate that moving from fragmented and reactive protection toward a comprehensive, coherent, and forward-looking framework is essential to safeguarding the dignity and best interests of children in the digital environment.
Keywords: Convention on the Rights of the Child, Right to Privacy, Children’s Rights, Information and Communication Technologies – ICTs
