The Ministry of Justice and HAKOM have made decisions that will accelerate child protection online, in the year CNZD celebrates its 20th anniversary
In 2026, the year it marks two decades of existence, the Center for Missing and Abused Children (CNZD) has achieved two major successes in the field of digital security. As reported by HRT Region Osijek, the Ministry of Justice, Administration, and Digital Transformation has given CNZD the green light to perform duties as a court expert for the protection and safety of children online. At the same time, HAKOM has granted the Center the status of a trusted flagger of illegal content on platforms. This makes CNZD the first organization in Croatia to hold both powers.
The Ministry has approved CNZD to conduct court expert assessments in social work, specialized in the protection and safety of children in the digital world. This allows the Center to put its years of experience at the service of judicial authorities in cases of online child endangerment. The expert assessments will be carried out on behalf of the Center by Tomislav Ramljak, President of CNZD and a permanent court expert in this field. The expert analysis includes, among other things, cyberbullying, child grooming, sexual exploitation, non-consensual sharing of intimate content, and deepfake materials.
HAKOM, in accordance with the Digital Services Act (DSA), has granted CNZD the status of a trusted flagger, marking the first such move in Croatia. This status allows the Center to report content involving online violence, protection of minors, violence against women, incitement to violence and hatred, fraud, human trafficking, and other forms of violence. As a trusted flagger, CNZD has the right to have its reports processed by platforms with priority and without delay.
"When the Center reports content it deems illegal and harmful, especially for children, the platform must give priority to that report. This can enable a faster response, prevent further spread of content, and help the victim receive protection sooner," explained Tomislav Ramljak for HRT Region Osijek.
Ramljak emphasized that both decisions come in the year CNZD celebrates 20 years of work. Over those two decades, the Center has provided assistance to children and families, educated professionals, and developed a system for child protection online. "These two decisions are a great recognition for us, but an even greater responsibility. [...] Our goal is for illegal content to be processed faster, for courts to receive quality expert support, and for children to receive timely protection," he said.
The Center for Missing and Abused Children today collaborates with the Ombudsperson for Children, state institutions, the police, educational institutions, and local self-government. Within CNZD, the Center for a Safer Internet also operates, which has so far opened five offices across Croatia, with new ones planned.
The trusted flagger status does not give the Center the authority to remove content; that remains the decision of the platforms themselves, while suspicions of criminal offenses are forwarded to the competent authorities. Nevertheless, citizens can expect faster processing of illegal content, more expert support for courts, and more effective and timely protection of children and families in the digital space.
