Concòrdia Councillors Propose 19 Amendments to Strengthen Andorra's Children's Digital Rights Law

Concòrdia councillors Núria Segués and Maria Àngels Aché presented 19 amendments to Andorra's draft law on children's and adolescents' rights during a Tuesday press conference, seeking to confine Andorra Digital to observation, analysis and technical advisory functions while bolstering government leadership on policy and highlighting parental duties around digital exposure.

Segués, the group's deputy president, stressed that the online world forms a core part of young people's daily lives, encompassing education, relationships, play and personal development. She praised the bill's consistency with global benchmarks but argued for updates to tackle emerging hazards, with ministries retaining oversight rather than delegating to agencies.

The amendments fall into three key categories. The first targets guardians' accountability for minors' "digital footprints," particularly from sharing photos on social media. Aché warned that even innocuous images, such as a child at the beach, could circulate uncontrollably and harm privacy, dignity or future prospects. The aim is to raise awareness through education and joint efforts, aligning with the bill's emphasis on prevention and avoiding any penalties.

A second cluster obliges electronics sellers to alert buyers to dangers from damaging content or excessive screen exposure, relying on uniform guidance prepared by the administration to maintain consistency.

The third addresses contemporary perils, explicitly naming grooming—adults targeting minors online for exploitation—AI-driven deepfakes, doxxing through unauthorised personal data leaks, cyberbullying, digital identity theft, unauthorised account breaches and profile misuse. Aché said identifying these aids protection, working alongside Penal Code reforms that stiffen sentences for serious acts like child pornography or non-consensual image sharing. Segués noted the bill outlines risks while criminal law handles offences.

Challenging Andorra Digital's involvement in about ten bill articles, Concòrdia insists such duties belong to the government or National Commission for Children and Adolescents. Segués accepted the agency's legal standing but pushed for a strictly technical scope, echoing the group's prior view of it as unnecessary overlap with existing administration roles. This fits broader scrutiny of entities from past Demòcrates governments, including calls for audits by figures like Andorra Endavant's Carine Montaner and Partit Socialdemòcrata's Pere Baró.

The proposals also refine definitions of harmful content like violence, pornography or hate speech, enhance digital protection info for minors with disabilities, and ensure coordination with Penal Code changes for cohesive responses.