Expert Roundtable Held on Protection of Minors in the Digital Environment
Organized by the Ulysseus Innovation Hub for Cybersecurity at the University of Montenegro, an expert roundtable titled “Protection of Minors in the Digital Environment” was held at the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro. The event was conducted within the framework of the strategic academic cooperation between the University of Montenegro and the University of Genoa, as part of the European University Alliance Ulysseus. This gave the discussion a strong comparative dimension and a clear European perspective, grounded in knowledge exchange and alignment with contemporary regulatory standards.
The roundtable brought together representatives of the legislative and executive branches, regulatory and supervisory bodies, the security sector, the Office of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, international organizations, the academic community, the technology industry, telecommunications companies, educational institutions, and civil society organizations—recognized leaders in this field within Montenegrin society. Such broad institutional representation confirmed that the protection of minors in the digital space is an issue of strategic public interest and requires a coordinated and responsible approach by all relevant stakeholders. Given that the aim of the meeting was to identify open normative issues and formulate concrete amendment proposals through expert-based discussion, the debate focused on improving the draft law and strengthening its institutional applicability.
In the opening part of the event, Prof. Savo Tomović, PhD, Academic Director of the Ulysseus Innovation Hub for Cybersecurity, emphasized strategic role of the University of Montenegro within the European University Alliance, stating: “It is particularly significant that the Innovation Hub for Cybersecurity is located at our University. This gives us capacity to serve as a regional centre of knowledge and initiatives in the field of digital security, including topics that go beyond academic framework and are of interest to a wider community.”
The initiator of the Draft Law, MP Slađana Kaluđerović, underlined that the law represents a response to profound social changes that digital environment brings to children and families: “This law is not merely a set of legal norms. It is a cry to save a childhood that is disappearing before our eyes,” she stated. She emphasized that the proposed text introduces a ban on the use of social media for children under the age of 13, mandatory parental verification for those aged 13 to 16, a ban on deepfake content, and restrictions on algorithmic recommendations targeting minors.
The expert segment of the event was moderated by Dr. Andreja Mihailović, Manager of the Ulysseus Innovation Hub for Cybersecurity, who highlighted in her address that the European regulatory approach is rapidly shifting from reactive content control toward the preventive transformation of digital service design. “Attention has become currency, and children must not be collateral in that economy,” Mihailović stressed, recalling that the European Parliament Resolution of November 2025 confirms this direction by insisting on a harmonized digital age threshold, a ban on profiling minors, and stronger enforcement of the Digital Services Act.
A comparative dimension to the discussion was provided by Dr. Klara Pastorino from the University of Genoa, who presented the Italian experience in implementing legislative solutions aimed at protecting minors in the digital environment. Under national legislation, minors aged 14 and above may independently give consent to the processing of their personal data in relation to digital services. Below that age, parental consent is required. There is no general ban on social media use for children under 13; the system relies on consent rules combined with mandatory protective measures imposed on service providers. The “Caivano Decree” introduced a significant innovation: providers of electronic communications must ensure that parental control tools are available and directly integrated into their service contracts. SIM cards registered to minors must mandatorily include the blocking of inappropriate content. Furthermore, there is a complete ban on children’s access to pornographic content, supported by an effective age verification system. Pastorino concluded that Italy is positioning itself as a regulatory laboratory in Europe. The shift from education-based prevention toward technologically imposed provider responsibility marks a transition from ineffective self-regulation to structured co-regulation, in line with the EU strategy “Better Internet for Kids.”
Prof. Anđela Ćeleste Taramaso reminded participants that events such as this reflect the mission of the European University Ulysseus, which involves community engagement and the promotion of the values of equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Participants emphasized that the digital environment in which children grow up cannot be left solely to market logic and algorithmic engagement models, but must be governed by clear and enforceable rules that protect their rights and development.
It was concluded that the protection of minors in the digital space is a matter of regulatory responsibility and institutional maturity. The constructive discussion confirmed the readiness of the expert and institutional community to contribute, through reasoned dialogue, to the establishment of a sustainable and European-aligned legislative framework. The proponents of the draft law emphasized that the arguments and suggestions presented at the roundtable would be significantly incorporated into further improvement of legislative solution.