Around the World in 80 Seconds: Parental Liability with Regard to the Use of the Internet by Minors

In recent years we have seen an explosion of online wrongdoing involving minors. In most legal systems within the EU the parents to these minors will not be liable for lack of technological literacy, not engaging in their internet presence, or not making themselves aware of their actions online. Unless there is conspiracy, fraud, or some direct criminal action involved, the adult does not bear part of the punishment. The author believes that this is wrong, both ethically as well as legally, and some  jurisdictions outside the EU seem to agree with this point of view.

(…)
By their first birthday children, through the use of touch screens on tablets and mobile phones, will be exposed to online connectivity. By the time they are 8 years old they have watched a video, played a game, downloaded music, engaged in a virtual world or studied online. By the age of 10 they are participating in the social media. This is an interconnected age that has given birth to an interconnected generation. Not being part of this generation though, parents might find it hard to follow.

(…)
This paper aims at establishing the importance of parental liability in preventing civil and criminal wrongs committed by minors online. Parental liability goes beyond the general notion of parental responsibility which usually involves the duty owed to the child to be reared within socially accepted standards. It is a term that points to an obligation on the part of the parent to assume legal responsibility towards third parties for the acts of their protégé, especially when these carry repercussions.

Click here to read the complete paper