Media Harmful to Young People

State protection of children and young people has constitutional status in Germany. Accordingly, the distribution of content harmful to minors is not permitted in Germany. The Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the Media provides a transnational and uniform legal framework for the protection of minors. It lists the content that is prohibited from being distributed on the Internet or on the radio.

The Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media of the State Media Authorities examines and evaluates violations of this catalog as part of broadcasting and telemedia supervision. It serves as a body for the responsible state media authorities in fulfilling their tasks. If there are violations of the Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors, the Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media decides on the measures to be taken against the media providers, which are then enforced by the state media authorities.

In Bremen, the Bremen State Media Authority is responsible for these tasks. It is a member of the Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media through its director. It is also the point of contact for citizens who wish to report violations of the applicable youth protection regulations on the Internet and in broadcasting and telemedia, as well as for all questions relating to the protection of children and young people in the media.

In deviation from this regulation, the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK) is responsible for checking the appropriate age levels for computer and console games. If you have any questions about sound carriers and print media, you can contact the Federal Agency for the Protection of Children and Young Persons in the Media. In the case of press products, you also have the option of contacting the German Press Council.

Requirements

In the Internet or in the radio and telemedia, in print products or computer games, content has been found which contradicts the applicable regulations for the protection of minors.