19 December 2025
Protecting children from online harm is one of our highest priorities. The digital world offers incredible opportunities for learning and connection, but it also presents risks that we must address with urgency and care.
The recent Scrutiny Panel review on online safety and digital harms has provided valuable insight, and I want to thank the Panel for their work in highlighting these important issues.
Our official response sets out clear, practical steps to strengthen protections for young people in Jersey. These actions reflect ongoing collaboration across government, schools, parents, and industry partners.
They include:
- Leadership and coordination: The Children and Families Minister will chair a new cross-Ministerial group to ensure that policy and legislative work on online harms is joined-up and effective.
- Legislative review: We will conduct a comprehensive gap analysis of existing laws and enforcement capacity. This will inform future legislation to address online harms and introduce child-specific protections. This is an opportunity to craft new legislation which is relevant to Jersey that will ultimately have a positive effect on Islanders' lives.
- Updated guidance for schools: In November, we launched the revised Digital Safeguarding and Technology Use Policy across schools and youth services, setting clear standards for online safety and reporting.
- Public consultation: Islanders are invited to share their views on proposed legislation that would allow harmful online content to be removed within 48 hours and strengthen online privacy.
- Education and awareness: Schools have introduced mobile phone restrictions and enhanced digital literacy programmes. We have also launched digisafejersey.gov.je, a new resource for parents and young people. In partnership with NSPCC Jersey and Safeguarding Partnership, we also introduced the 'Be the first filter' campaign, which gives advice and support to parents aimed at helping our children stay safe online safeguarding.je/safeguarding-children/online-harms
- Future strategy: While we have not adopted a single online safety strategy immediately, we are committed to coordinated action across government, informed by evidence and international best practice.
The Scrutiny review made 38 recommendations. Ministers have accepted 12, partially accepted 23, and rejected 3. This demonstrates our commitment to meaningful progress while ensuring that any changes are practical, enforceable, and in the best interests of children and families.
Our response sets out immediate actions and a clear commitment to work with parents, schools, and industry to make Jersey one of the safest places for young people in the digital world.
Working with our telecommunication providers
Ministers have welcomed the support of Jersey's key telecommunication providers JT, Sure, Homenet and Co-Op and their work to help protect young people and keep them safe online. Sharing with Ministers key initiatives already in place and soon to be launched, telecommunication providers have recognised the important role they can help play, especially in educating parents to set-up safer online environments in the home. Collaboration will continue, with a working group to be established to help shape future policy.
New online guidance hub launched
A new online guidance hub has also been launched to help children, young people, and families navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.
DigiSafe Jersey is a collaboration by the Children, Young People, Education and Skills (CYPES) department with children and young people and key partners such as the NSPCC, Safeguarding Partnership, Children and Families Hub, and Public Health.
Children and young people at the School Council Network engaged with a number of activities to support the development of the site. Students were tasked with creating scenarios that feature in the new guidance hub and finally both created and voted for the name DigiSafe Jersey.
A comprehensive resource has been created that offers practical advice, guidance, and signposts to relevant information in a single source to help support healthy digital practices for children and families.
Deputy Ferey added: “The launch of DigiSafe Jersey reflects the Government's commitment to safeguarding and empowering Islanders in an increasingly digital world. DigiSafeJersey is a fantastic example of collaboration. This will be a resource that will continue to be updated to benefit the entire community."
gov.je