Meet Jenny Jones, director, public policy for GSMA
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors.
My role
I look after the GSMA’s mYouth programme which focuses specifically on young people’s use of mobile – promoting the many opportunities available to young people in today’s digital society, but also working to proactively address potential risks. I also manage the GSMA Mobile Alliance Against Child Sexual Abuse Content which is made up of a group of mobile operators from around the world who are committed to working proactively to keep mobile services free from child sexual abuse content.
I am very committed to the idea that encouraging the safe and responsible usage of ICTs by young people, and preventing the misuse of ICTs by adults to exploit children, is only achievable when all stakeholders are engaged and playing their role. By all stakeholders, I mean industry, but also government and educators, law enforcement, child support services and specialist NGOs, as well as parents and carers.
My idea of success
Success, for me, is when we’re all leaning in and collectively asking “what else should we be doing, how can we do this better?” Globally, we are getting better at this kind of collaboration every year – so I guess that would be an example of what makes me happy.
How I imagine my profession in 10 years time
I am, in many ways, very optimistic. Most parents in 10 years will have more or less grown up online – I think my generation is perhaps the last one to feel a distinction between our “real lives” and our “digital lives”. So I like to think that the next generation of parents will feel more confident about engaging with their children’s digital activities and guiding them on how to enjoy technology safely and responsibly.
Equally, the internet has already proven its capacity to inform and engage people, both young and old, in ways that encourage us all to become active digital citizens – using technology to change the world around us for the better. I think this trend will continue and become increasingly embedded in the next 10 years.
But of course, optimism must be tempered with pragmatism. When thinking of the sexual exploitation of children, we must assume that there will always be people who will seek to misuse technology. There will never be a moment when this problem is solved and anyone that signs up to contribute to this fight, must do so for the long haul. Technology will evolve, as will misuse of it – and we must continually update our response to combat misuse.
What I think about collaboration
Open dialogue is vital, as is accepting that no one party holds the key. We must work together to ensure that we’re providing the best possible balance where children’s rights appear to be in opposition – for example, between children’s rights to privacy and information, and their right to be safeguarded – so that we can continue to promote opportunities and manage risks.
The major players
There are so many who are improving the lives of young people – including growing numbers of young people themselves! – and using technology as a tool. There is the mighty UNICEF, which uses the UN platform to advocate for children’s rights in the widest sense, to small organisations like Worldreader who work with a very specific focus but with an overarching ambition of improving children’s lives.
I’m also constantly humbled by colleagues working on the frontline in law enforcement and child protection services, including helplines and hotlines. They are fighting to uphold the rights of one child at a time, painstakingly and with great personal commitment, and collectively and gradually their work changes and informs how we all approach children’s rights.
Tools available
There are so many great online tools and communities already in place for campaigning and raising awareness of issues. Organisations like Apps for Good are already going out there and encouraging young people to develop digital skills and use them to make the world a better place.
Content on this page is paid for and provided by UNICEF, sponsor of the business and child rights hub.
