Cybersecurity Authority proposes ban on minors accessing adult content online

The Cybersecurity Authority (CSA) has proposed measures to restrict minors in Ghana from accessing adult content websites, citing growing concerns about children’s exposure to explicit material through smartphones and unrestricted internet access. The Authority says current age-confirmation systems, which rely on users declaring they are over 18, are ineffective and fail to prevent underage access. It is therefore calling for stronger age-verification mechanisms to better protect children online. The proposal is anchored in the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), which mandates the protection of vulnerable groups in Ghana’s digital space. The CSA warns that early exposure to adult content could negatively affect children’s emotional development, behaviour, and academic performance. While the initiative has been welcomed by many parents and child-advocacy groups, others have raised concerns about privacy and data protection. The proposal has since sparked national debate on balancing digital freedom with child protection as it awaits further review.