Policy frameworks

BIK Map - Estonia - Framework

Estonia has addressed the European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children (BIK) in part in national public policies. BIK-related issues have been incorporated into the Strategy of Children and Families 2012–2020 and the Estonian Lifelong Learning Strategy 2020. Digital competence as a key competence including safety related sub-skills is a compulsory element in the Estonian national curriculum. The Child Protection Act (2014) includes changes and amendments into Penal Code related to online offences against children.

Policy design

BIK Map - Estonia - Design

Policy design is distributed across between four to six ministries. Coordination shared between a number of different agencies and ministries for Better Internet for Kids policy. BIK-related policies are managed and coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Research (digital media literacy), by the Ministry of Social Affairs (child protection issues, awareness raising, by the Ministry of Justice (policies related to preventing offences against minors) and by the Ministry of Interior (awareness raising, cyber security issues). The Estonian Safer Internet Centre (SIC) (involving four partners) is also a coordinating body through its Advisory Board which involves representatives of Ministry of Education and Research, Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications as well as of different government agencies and public and private agencies. Quantitative and qualitative data on some BIK-related issues is collected as part of a broader survey. However, there is no regular data collection specifically focussed on BIK.

Policy actors

BIK Map - Estonia - Actors

Ministries, public agencies and the Safer Internet Centre play a leading role in in carrying out activities and implementing BIK policy in Estonia. NGOs, industry groups and universities/research centres also play a complementary role. Children and young people have been consulted through different initiatives and activities organised by municipal agencies including schools, as well as by awareness-raising activities organised by public and private agencies. Young people were asked to participate and to give their opinions during the process of developing a new Child Protection Act. A consultation group of young people (under 18) meets regularly at the Estonian Chancellor of Justice (acting also as Child Ombudsman). The Estonian Safer Internet Centre has a Youth Panel.

Breadth of activities

Breadth of activities outlines progress made in Member States delivering initiatives at the national level. Using the full range of recommendations contained in the BIK strategy, the following tables highlight which actions are supported and whether they have increased, stayed the same or decreased in prominence in the last three years for each of the BIK pillars.

BIK Map - Estonia - Pillar 1

BIK Map - Estonia  - Pillar 2

BIK Map - Estonia  - Pillar 3

BIK Map - Estonia  - Pillar 4

BIK Map - Estonia  - Pillar 5