While technology continues to offer numerous opportunities â€" from innovation and learning to improving productivity â€" it has also brought with it a wave of risks, especially for children who often lack the maturity to discern appropriate online content.
According to officials, these risks fall into four categories: information-related, contact-related, behaviour-related, and contractual.
Information-related risks include exposure to degrading or pornographic material, violent or hateful content, fake news, and content that promotes bad behaviour.
Contact-related risks involve child trafficking, harassment, hate speech, intimidation, sexual solicitation, and online grooming.
Behaviour-related risks include cyberbullying, receiving sexually explicit messages, sharing of nude or revenge images, public humiliation, impersonation, coercion, and gambling, among others.
Authorities warn that such exposure has serious psychological and moral effects on children. In response, Rwanda has introduced a new Child Online Protection Policy, adopted in September 2025, aimed at ensuring a safer digital environment for children.
The policy calls for close collaboration between government institutions and internet service providers to detect and block harmful content before it reaches children. It also provides for clear legal and regulatory frameworks enabling authorities to sanction platforms that fail to remove flagged material.
Additionally, the framework seeks to establish systems for monitoring online offenders in line with international standards.
To discourage the production and consumption of pornographic material, the policy introduces ethical guidelines for technology developers and service providers, requiring them to uphold Rwandan cultural values and prioritise children's safety online.
It also seeks to ensure that minors do not access age-inappropriate content and that children's data stored on devices or online platforms is adequately protected. The policy further encourages responsible advertising by requiring online marketing to be categorised according to age groups.
Service providers will be obliged to put in place mechanisms to identify and restrict content unsuitable for minors.
To strengthen accountability, the government plans to establish a toll-free hotline through which citizens can report harmful online content, seek assistance from experts, and request the removal or suspension of offending websites.
Children under 18 make up nearly half of Rwanda's population. The government aims to make the internet accessible to all, while ensuring that young users are equipped with digital literacy and protection mechanisms.
The Child Online Protection Policy envisions an inclusive digital environment that safeguards children's rights while promoting safe and responsible technology use.
The policy will be implemented over a five-year period with an estimated budget of Frw 1.52 billion.
Its implementation will involve multiple institutions, including the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of ICT and Innovation, Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), RURA, RISA, REB, the Rwanda National Police, and other partners.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-moves-to-curb-children-s-exposure-to-pornographic-content
