Child safety online Archives | Page 17 of 86

EU lapse in child safety rules raises concerns

The expiry of the EU ePrivacy derogation, which allowed technology to detect child sexual abuse material online, has raised concerns over weaker child safeguards. The lapse is seen as creating legal uncertainty for platforms that rely on established detection tools to prevent ongoing harm.

For years, technology companies have voluntarily used hash-matching to detect and remove CSAM, a widely recognised tool for disrupting abuse and protecting victims.

Google is among the organisations calling on the EU institutions to urgently finalise a regulatory framework, alongside nearly 250 child rights organisations, warning that reduced capacity could impact child safety globally.

The EU institutions face criticism for failing to maintain an interim agreement, with stakeholders saying the lack of continuity undermines child online safety efforts.

Meta, Microsoft, and Snap have reaffirmed their commitment to continue voluntary detection and reporting measures while respecting user privacy. The companies also urge the EU institutions to finalise an urgent regulatory framework for consistent and effective child protection standards.

The absence of a clear framework has been described as creating instability for responsible platforms operating across Europe. Fragmented rules and legal uncertainty can slow detection and reporting systems, weakening coordinated protection efforts across platforms and borders.

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EU interim ePrivacy derogation for voluntary CSAM detection expires

The EU’s interim ePrivacy derogation allowing certain communications services to detect child sexual abuse online voluntarily expired after 3 April 2026, bringing to an end the temporary legal basis that had permitted some providers to scan private communications for child sexual abuse material under limited conditions.

The exemption applied to number-independent interpersonal communications services such as messaging, webmail, and internet telephony platforms, allowing them to use specific technologies to detect, report, and remove child sexual abuse material in private communications.

Under the temporary framework, providers were also required to make information from reports submitted to authorities and the European Commission available in a structured, machine-readable format.

On 26 March 2026, the European Parliament said the derogation would not be extended after negotiations with the Council of the European Union failed to produce an agreement. Parliament had supported a further extension on 11 March, backing a shorter prolongation until August 2027 and a narrower scope than the European Commission had proposed, but no final deal was reached before the deadline.

The expiry leaves the EU without an updated interim arrangement, while negotiations on a permanent legal framework for addressing online child sexual abuse continue. In practice, that means the bloc still has no settled long-term answer to one of its most difficult digital policy questions: how to reconcile child protection measures with privacy and confidentiality rules governing private communications.

Why does it matter?

Because the lapse removes the temporary EU legal basis that had allowed some messaging and other communications services to voluntarily use detection technologies for online child sexual abuse under a limited exemption from ePrivacy rules. That creates immediate legal and operational uncertainty for providers that had relied on the framework, while also reopening a wider policy conflict the EU has still not resolved: how to support child safety online without undermining privacy, confidentiality of communications, and data protection safeguards in the absence of a permanent legislative solution.

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UK regulator orders revised safety assessments under Online Safety Act

Ofcom has ordered more than 40 online services to submit revised risk assessments under the UK’s Online Safety Act, increasing pressure on platforms to show how they identify and reduce illegal content and other user harms.

The move marks a tougher phase in the UK’s online safety regime, with the regulator signalling that incomplete or delayed submissions could trigger enforcement action.

Ofcom said earlier reviews had identified weaknesses in several assessments, prompting companies to strengthen their approach and improve safeguards.

The requirement is especially significant for services likely to be accessed by children, which must also examine the risk of exposure to harmful content and demonstrate what protective measures they have in place. In that sense, the regulator is pushing platforms to treat safety not as a reactive moderation issue, but as a design and compliance obligation.

Ofcom has also indicated that major platforms will eventually have to publish summaries of their risk assessments, adding a transparency layer to the regime.

The latest demands suggest that the UK is moving beyond setting out online safety expectations and into a more interventionist stage focused on supervision, accountability, and enforcement.

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Cyberbullying in education addressed at UNESCO workshop in Addis Ababa

UNESCO has used a two-day workshop in Addis Ababa to push cyberbullying, hate speech, misinformation, and other forms of online violence in schools higher on the education and digital safety agenda, bringing together teachers, education experts, government representatives, youth leaders, and academics in training organised by its Liaison Office to the African Union, UNECA and Ethiopia alongside the Addis Ababa City Government Education Bureau.

Held on 7 and 8 March, the event was presented as an effort to strengthen local capacity to recognise, prevent, and respond to online harms affecting students, while framing cyberviolence not only as a student well-being issue, but also as a broader challenge for safer and more inclusive learning environments.

According to UNESCO, such harms can affect learners’ mental health, sense of safety, and academic performance, placing cyberbullying and online abuse within a wider discussion about digital well-being and protection in education. That framing matters because it treats online violence in schools as more than an issue of classroom discipline or individual misconduct.

The organisation also linked the workshop to wider evidence of harm in digital spaces, citing data showing that 58% of young women and girls globally have experienced online harassment on social media platforms. The Addis Ababa event can be read as part of a broader attempt to build institutional awareness and response capacity around online harms affecting young people.

Training sessions covered digital safety, cyberbullying prevention, digital rights and responsibilities, digital well-being, and UNESCO guidance on tackling cyberviolence in education. The emphasis was not only on identifying risks, but also on helping educators and youth leaders respond to them more effectively in both online and offline learning settings.

While the workshop did not introduce a new policy framework or regulatory measure, it suggests that cyberbullying is increasingly being treated as part of a wider public-interest conversation about education, student protection, and digital harms.

That gives the event greater relevance than a routine training session, particularly in a context where schools are being pushed to address the social consequences of digital platforms more directly.

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Experts warn YouTube AI slop harms children and demand action

Fairplay and more than 200 experts have urged YouTube to address the spread of ‘AI slop’ targeting children. The letter was sent to Sundar Pichai and Neal Mohan, along with a petition.

The signatories state that AI-generated videos harm children’s development by distorting reality and overwhelming learning processes. They also warn that such content captures attention and is being recommended to young users, including infants and toddlers.

The letter cites findings that 40% of videos following shows like Cocomelon contained AI-generated content. It also states that 21% of Shorts recommendations included similar material, and misleading science videos were shown to older children.

Fairplay and its partners propose measures, including labelling AI content and banning it from YouTube Kids. They also call for restrictions on recommendations to under-18s and for tools that allow parents to turn off such content.

The initiative was organised by Fairplay and supported by organisations and experts, including Jonathan Haidt. The group says platforms must ensure content is safe and appropriate for children.

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France moves toward social media restrictions for children under 15

Legislative efforts in France signal a shift toward stricter governance of youth access to digital platforms, with policymakers preparing to debate a ban on social media use for children under 15.

A proposal that forms part of a broader strategy to address concerns over online harms and excessive screen exposure among adolescents.

The draft law in France extends beyond access restrictions, proposing a digital curfew for older teenagers and expanding existing school phone bans to include high schools.

These measures reflect increasing reliance on regulatory intervention instead of voluntary platform safeguards, as evidence links prolonged digital engagement with risks such as cyberbullying, disrupted sleep patterns and exposure to harmful content.

Political backing for the initiative has emerged from figures aligned with Emmanuel Macron, reinforcing the government’s position that stronger oversight of digital environments is necessary. The proposal also mirrors developments in Australia, where similar restrictions have already entered into force.

A debate that is further influenced by legal actions targeting major platforms, including TikTok and Meta, amid allegations that algorithmic systems contribute to harmful user experiences.

The outcome of the parliamentary discussions in France is expected to shape future approaches to child safety, platform accountability and digital rights governance across Europe.

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Dutch court bans harmful Grok AI-generated images

A judge in Amsterdam has ordered AI chatbot Grok and platform X to stop generating and distributing explicit deepfake images. The ruling targets so-called ‘undressing’ content and illegal material involving minors.

The case was brought by Offlimits, which argued that safeguards were failing. The Dutch judges found sufficient evidence that harmful images could still be created despite existing restrictions.

The court imposed a penalty of €100,000 per day for violations, with a maximum of €10 million. Access to Grok on X must also be suspended if the system does not comply with the order.

The decision highlights growing legal pressure on AI platforms to control the misuse of generative tools. Regulators and courts are increasingly demanding stronger protections against online abuse and illegal content.

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California challenges federal approach with new AI rules

The government of California is advancing a more interventionist approach to AI governance, signalling a divergence from federal deregulatory preferences.

An executive order signed by Gavin Newsom mandates the development of comprehensive AI policies within 4 months, prioritising public safety and protecting fundamental rights.

The proposed framework requires companies seeking state contracts to demonstrate safeguards against harmful outputs, including the prevention of child exploitation material and violent content.

It also calls for measures addressing algorithmic bias and unlawful discrimination, alongside increased transparency through mechanisms such as watermarking AI-generated media.

Federal guidance has discouraged state-level intervention, framing such efforts as obstacles to technological leadership.

The evolving policy landscape reflects growing concern over the societal impact of AI systems, including risks to employment, content integrity and civil liberties.

An initiative by California that may therefore serve as a testing ground for future regulatory models, shaping broader debates on balancing innovation with accountability in digital governance.

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Australia reviews compliance with under-16 social media age ban

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has released an update on rules requiring platforms to prevent users under 16 from holding accounts. Early results show significant action by companies, but also ongoing challenges in fully enforcing the restrictions.

By mid-December 2025, around 4.7 million accounts were removed or restricted, with more than 300,000 additional accounts blocked by March 2026. Despite these reductions, many children continue to retain accounts, create new ones, or pass age assurance checks.

Regulators identified several compliance concerns, including platforms that allow repeated attempts at age verification and encourage some users to update their ages. Reporting systems for underage accounts were often difficult to access, particularly for parents.

Investigations into five major platforms are ongoing to determine whether they have taken reasonable steps to meet their legal obligations. Authorities are assessing systems and processes rather than individual accounts, with enforcement decisions expected by mid-2026.

A new legislative rule introduced in March 2026 targets platform features linked to potential harm, such as recommender systems and continuous content feeds. Regulators will continue working with industry while gathering evidence and maintaining transparency during the enforcement process.

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EU boosts fact-checking with €5 million disinformation resilience plan

The European Commission has committed €5 million to strengthen independent fact-checking networks, reinforcing efforts to counter disinformation across Europe. The initiative seeks to expand verification capacity in all EU languages while improving coordination among key stakeholders.

The programme introduces a comprehensive support system for fact-checkers, covering legal assistance, cybersecurity protection and psychological support.

It also establishes a centralised European repository of verified information, designed to enhance transparency and improve access to reliable content across the EU.

Led by the European Fact-Checking Standards Network, the project builds on existing frameworks such as the European Digital Media Observatory. The initiative forms part of the EU’s broader strategy to strengthen information integrity and safeguard democratic processes.

By reinforcing independent verification ecosystems, the programme reflects a policy-driven effort to address disinformation threats while supporting a more resilient and trustworthy digital environment across Europe.

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