Youth protection law serves to protect young people in public and as such is a broad area of law which is regulated in many laws. First and foremost, in the German Youth Protection Act but also in the Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the Media, in the Act against Restraints of Competition, in the Civil Code, and in the General Data Protection Regulation.

This multitude of laws is not only about the well-known age labels for games or films by USK (Entertainment Software Self-Regulation) or FSK (Voluntary Self-Regulation of the Film Industry). In the area of media law, the protection of young people plays a role above all in the framework of restrictions on the broadcasting of content that could endanger children and young people. This also applies to let’s players and influencers who report on or stream such content.

In addition, the protection of young people plays an important role as a sub-area of consumer protection and competition law, for example when it comes to the design of offers on the Internet. So-called ‘dark patterns’ are used time and again, especially in

online and mobile games. These are deliberate interface designs which, among other things, also want to entice children and young people to consume and buy products and content which run counter to their interests.

We have been in close contact with the USK for many years and regularly advise our clients on the protection of young people from the product and offer signing phase onwards. We also represent our clients in court in cases involving the protection of young people before supervisory authorities and consumer protection organisations.