Administrative and Criminal Law Aspects of the Protection of Minors in Cyberspace: Selected Issues

The positive aspects of the use of electronic means of communication in administration, public and private services, on the one hand, and the potential threats to cyber security, on the other hand, lead to the assumption that the development of a specific digital security strategy is as necessary as the efficiency and effectiveness of e-actions. First of all, an important element of protection is to ensure the safe use of the Internet by minors. The aim of the article is to characterize the type of dangers that minors are exposed to when using the network. Administrative and penal measures that allow for the effective protection of minors in cyberspace are presented. The paper provides answers to the questions which aspects should be given special attention in the case of protection of children against electronic threats, in the context of personal data security and protection against e-pedophilia. The conducted research will allow to verify the research hypothesis, according to which the protection of underage Internet users cannot be limited only to parental control of content processed by minors on the Internet, but should be subject to special protection of the Polish legislator, public authorities and qualified institutions.