Poland Will Ban Smartphones in Schools and Block Children's Access to Adult Websites
The Polish government has approved a package of laws designed to strengthen the protection of children on the internet and provide schools with new tools to limit students' use of mobile phones. This was reported by RMF24 citing Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs of Poland Krzysztof Havkowski.
According to the official, the new regulations provide for restricting minors' access to online pornography, accelerating the removal of illegal content, including materials of sexual violence against children, fraudulent schemes, and content related to personal data theft.
Havkowski noted that the average age of Polish children’s first exposure to pornographic content is just under 11 years. In this regard, the government decided to introduce a system of anonymous age verification for users.
He said the mechanism will not collect information about which sites a person visits, and online services will not receive users' personal data. The system will only confirm that the user is of legal age.
In addition, the Polish authorities plan to speed up the blocking of illegal content online. Decisions on content removal will be made within tight deadlines under court supervision.
During a press conference, Havkowski emphasized that courts will determine whether certain content should be removed from the internet. According to him, this will provide additional guarantees of security and legal oversight.
A separate bill concerns the use of smartphones in schools. It aims to give educational institutions more opportunities to restrict the use of mobile phones during the learning process.
As the minister explained, the purpose of the innovation is to support students' concentration, foster communication among peers, and reduce dependence on screens and constant notifications.
Poland's Minister of Education Barbara Nowacka announced that the new rules will come into effect on September 1, at the start of the new school year.
The ban will apply to both public and private schools. It will cover the use of mobile phones not only during lessons but also during breaks. The restrictions will also include other devices used for recording sound and images.
At the same time, exceptions are provided. Smartphones and other devices can be used in cases related to students' health or safety, as well as if a teacher deems them necessary for the educational process.
According to Nowacka, the decision to introduce such restrictions is supported by educators. She noted that similar bans are already in place in more than half of Polish schools. Also, according to research, about 85% of citizens support limiting smartphone use in educational institutions.
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