Conference on Safer Internet Day: A Joint Response by Institutions and Children to the Challenges of the Digital Environment

ZAGREB, 9 February 2026 - In celebration of Safer Internet Day, a conference dedicated to the safety of children and young people in the digital environment, titled “Together for a Safer Internet”, will take place in Zagreb on 10 February 2026. The event is organised by HAKOM, CARNET’s National CERT, and the Safer Internet Centre, which operates within the Centre for Missing and Abused Children.

The conference brings together experts in regulatory policy, education, cybersecurity, child rights, and mental health, as well as children and young people, who are not merely participants but active co-presenters in certain sessions of the programme.

“HAKOM, as the national regulator of electronic communications and the coordinator for digital services, continuously places special emphasis on protecting children and young people in the digital environment. While the development of artificial intelligence presents numerous opportunities, it also introduces new risks. It is therefore essential to provide timely information to parents, teachers, and the wider public. Through this conference, we aim to encourage professional and societal discussion and contribute to a better understanding of the safe and responsible use of digital technologies among young people,” emphasised Miran Gosta, Director of HAKOM.

The conference programme covers a range of current and interrelated topics, from the presentation of the results of the national deSHAME 3 survey and policies aimed at ensuring a healthy and safe online environment in Croatia, to the Code for the Protection and Promotion of Children’s Rights in the Digital Environment. Discussions will also address the challenges of communication in the world of social media and artificial intelligence, as well as the use of AI tools by children and young people, with particular emphasis on potential impacts and risks.

“CARNET does not operate solely at a technical level in terms of preventing and handling incidents; it also participates in educational initiatives and professional and public discussions on online safety. We actively contribute to raising awareness on issues such as cyber hygiene, digital footprints, various threats, and privacy protection, which is particularly important when it comes to children, one of the most vulnerable groups of digital technology users,” stated Miro Đuzel, Assistant Director of CARNET for the National CERT.

A distinctive feature of this conference is the active involvement of children and young people. Part of the programme is specifically designed for them, including workshops for children and a joint workshop titled “Teaching Adults”, aimed at parents, professionals, and all participants, with the goal of fostering mutual understanding and improving communication about digital risks.

“The Safer Internet Centre works daily with children, parents, and professionals who face the real consequences of online abuse, exploitation, and risky behaviour in the digital environment. Through this conference, we aim to bring together practical experience, children’s perspectives, and professional expertise, emphasising that protecting children online is not the responsibility of individuals alone, but a shared task for institutions, systems, and society as a whole,” said Tomislav Ramljak, Head of the Safer Internet Centre.
 
Ensuring children’s safety online is neither a one-off issue nor a matter of choice; it is an ongoing responsibility for all of us. Only through continuous collaboration among institutions, the education system, professionals, parents, and children can we create a digital environment in which children are protected, empowered, and safe—not only today, but also in the future.