Experts ask for stronger juvenile protections

Legal experts called for China to protect juveniles through cybersecurity legislation and redoubled efforts against school bullying after several cases aroused public outrage and concern.

Fang Yan, a lawyer from Shaanxi province, said that it's good to see the nation adding to the protection of juveniles in the past few years, "but in some new aspects, such as cyberspace, the protection is far from enough".

At the end of 2018, China had 829 million netizens, of whom almost 20 percent were under the age of 18, according to the China Internet Network Information Center.

Another report released by the center in March said that 15.6 percent of juveniles had experienced disturbances, insults or privacy leaks online, while 30.3 percent said they had been exposed to pornography, gambling or drugs in cyberspace.

"The internet offers convenience to children, but the harmful messages online are also seriously influencing them, or even turning them into criminals or victims," Fang said.

In a case disclosed by the Supreme People's Court last year, a defendant was sentenced to four years in prison for indecent communications with several girls under the age of 12 online in the name of offering them video classes.

In another case, a 16-year-old boy was sentenced to 22 months in prison for selling drugs via QQ, a popular messaging tool, the top court said.

"Considering the disorder of cyberspace, it's a must to revise the Juvenile Protection Law," Fang said. "It's urgent and necessary to add a special part about juvenile cybersecurity in the law to clarify each government department's responsibilities and duties."

She also urged internet device manufacturers and online service providers to install software that can block harmful messages to children.

Zhao Wanping, a lawmaker from Anhui province, said revisions to the law should highlight the protection of juveniles and regulate online information collection or use to prevent harm and problems brought by the internet, such as school bullying and sexual abuse.

In response, Liu Xinhua, a senior official from the National People's Congress, the top legislative body, said amendments to the law this year are being considered.

"Articles will be doubled, and the hot issues, including school bullying, will be added," Liu said.

Tong Lihua, director of a juvenile law research center in Beijing, welcomed the revision, suggesting that the law be amended to be more specific and practical.

Yuan Ningning, an associate law professor at China University of Political Science and Law, is keeping his eye on school bullying, saying the revision would deter would-be offenders.

But he said legislators should clarify the respective responsibilities of schools, parents, government departments and judicial authorities in the future law, and provide a clearer definition of bullying.