To fight against access to pornographic images of minors, the Secretary of State for Children, Charlotte Caubel, declared on Tuesday October 25 on franceinfo “whatever the means, it’s the goal that counts: more access to porn for those under 18”offering in particular the use of a credit card to access the sites.
franceinfo: You said this morning “Let’s stop taking tweezers”, do you have that feeling?
Charlotte Caubel: I believe him. Since July 2020, digital operators have had the obligation to do everything possible to prevent minors from accessing pornographic sites. Today we have a report from the delegation for women’s rights in the Senate which is extremely eloquent: “Porn, the hell of the decor”. He insists on the impact of porn on our children, with extremely worrying figures: one in three children has access to porn before the age of 13. We must act urgently so that the law of 2020 comes into force and that access to porn by minors is impossible.
Do you offer a kind of filter by imposing the use of a credit card to access these sites?
Whatever the means, it’s the goal that counts: more access to porn for those under 18. With Jean-Noël Barrot, the Minister of Digital, we are in dialogue with all digital operators. The bank card was discussed: using it for 0 or 1 euro would be a filter, not necessarily complete – some teenagers already have a credit card, if need be, it can be hacked – but that would already be an obstacle for many children, especially children under 16. Even if they have a credit card, parents will be able to follow the consumption of the cards. If the operators have a more efficient way that suits them, who cares. What I want today is for the law to be applied.
Why is this law not yet applied?
I am sometimes criticized for protecting the privacy of adults. If an adult uses his credit card, he can be spotted on the sites. I ask everyone: is protecting the privacy of adults who want to go to porn sites as important or more important than protecting the mental health and development of our children? It is a subject of value, and my value to me is the children.