Child safety online

Google highlights rising online scam threats

Google has warned that online scams remain a major global challenge, citing estimates that fraud losses could reach nearly $580 billion in 2025.

In its latest fraud and scams advisory, the company said phishing attacks are becoming more sophisticated, with criminals using adversary-in-the-middle techniques and QR code phishing, also known as quishing, to steal credentials and bypass security measures.

The advisory also highlighted risks linked to cryptocurrency investment scams, malicious finance applications and police impersonation schemes. According to Google, scammers are using AI, social engineering and trusted digital services to deceive users, obtain money and collect sensitive information.

Google said its Trust & Safety teams are using AI tools, predictive analytics and policy enforcement to detect and disrupt fraudulent activity across its services. The company also pointed to measures such as stronger protections for session cookies, enforcement against deceptive crypto ads, monitoring of post-installation app behaviour and developer identity verification for apps installed on certified Android devices.

The company urged users to be cautious of unsolicited communications, unrealistic investment promises, unexpected QR codes and requests for personal or financial information.

Why does it matter?

The advisory shows how online fraud is becoming a cross-platform governance problem rather than a narrow cybersecurity issue. Scams now rely on trusted cloud services, mobile apps, messaging platforms, crypto infrastructure and impersonation of public authorities. That creates pressure on major technology companies to strengthen detection, app accountability and policy enforcement, while raising broader questions about consumer protection, platform responsibility and digital trust.

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Apple unveils next-generation Siri AI and expanded child safety features

Apple has unveiled the next generation of Apple Intelligence at WWDC26, introducing a significantly upgraded Siri designed to provide deeper personal context awareness, broader app integration and more advanced conversational capabilities.

The new assistant can search across messages, emails and photos, answer questions about on-screen content and access web information to provide more up-to-date responses while maintaining Apple’s privacy-focused approach.

Alongside its AI announcements, Apple announced major updates to parental controls and Screen Time features. Parents will be able to approve new contacts, manage app permissions more precisely and benefit from new safety features designed to respond when explicit or violent content is shared.

New screen time recommendations and scheduling tools are also intended to encourage healthier digital habits for children.

Software updates arriving later this year across Apple’s operating systems will also introduce a range of performance improvements.

Apple said app launches on iPhone and iPad are up to 30% faster, newly captured photos load up to 70% faster, and AirDrop transfers can be up to 80% quicker. Search functions across Spotlight, Photos, and Mail have also been redesigned to improve speed and accuracy.

Additional features include enhanced health tracking, expanded AirPods personalisation, improved Apple Watch functionality, cross-platform photo sharing through iCloud Shared Albums, and AI-powered upgrades to Apple Maps and Apple Vision Pro.

Public beta testing begins next month, with the full software release scheduled for autumn. Apple noted that some Apple Intelligence features will vary by device, language, and region, with regulatory requirements affecting availability in certain markets, including China and parts of the European Union.

Why does it matter?

Apple’s latest updates reflect a broader industry shift, especially towards embedding child safety and digital well-being features directly into operating systems, as governments and regulators worldwide increase scrutiny of how technology platforms protect young users online.

Enhanced parental controls, communication safeguards, and screen time management tools could help set new standards for online child protection, influencing future policies and product development across the technology sector.

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Australia welcomes Apple child online safety tools

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed Apple’s new online safety controls for children, saying Apple CEO Tim Cook briefed him on the announcement.

According to Albanese, Cook said the changes were partly inspired by Australia’s under-16 social media age restrictions and by Apple’s continuing research into the impact of social media on children.

Albanese said Australia was proud of its work to support a safer online environment for children and argued that other countries are now developing similar social media age restrictions.

Cook invited Albanese to visit Apple during his next trip to the United States to see the technology in action. Albanese said he intended to accept the invitation as Australia continues to consider how best to protect children online.

The Prime Minister said Australian parents had led the push for stronger protections and that the government was backing their efforts. He said more than 5 million under-16 accounts had already been removed, deactivated, or restricted.

Albanese said social media companies have a social responsibility and that Australia would continue holding them to account to help keep children safe.

Why does it matter?

The announcement highlights how national online safety rules can shape platform design beyond a country’s borders. Australia’s under-16 social media restrictions have been closely watched internationally, and Albanese is presenting Apple’s new child safety tools as evidence that regulatory pressure can push major technology companies towards stronger child protection features. The case also shows the growing link between device-level controls, platform accountability, age assurance, and children’s digital rights.

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UK’s IWF backs on-device nudity detection to protect children online

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has welcomed a UK government proposal that would require technology companies to introduce on-device nudity detection and blocking features for children’s internet-connected devices used by children. The charity argues that preventing explicit images from being created or shared could significantly reduce the circulation of child sexual abuse material online.

The proposal follows growing concern over the increasing volume of so-called ‘self-generated’ child sexual abuse material, in which children are manipulated or coerced into creating explicit content.

According to IWF data, 311,610 reports containing child sexual abuse material were actioned during 2025, the highest number recorded by the organisation. Of those reports, 266,397 contained at least one self-generated image or video, underscoring the scale of the issue.

According to the IWF, children are frequently groomed, manipulated or coerced into producing sexual images that are subsequently distributed online. During 2025, analysts assessed more than 111,000 criminal images and almost 29,000 videos involving self-generated abuse material. More than 25,000 of those files were classified as Category A, the most severe category under UK law.

While supporting device-level protections, the organisation emphasised that no single intervention can address the problem on its own. It argues that effective child protection requires a combination of device safeguards, platform responsibility, law enforcement action and broader online safety policies.

Why does it matter?

The proposal reflects a growing shift towards preventative online safety measures that seek to stop harmful content from being created and shared, rather than relying solely on detection and removal after distribution.

The debate also highlights increasing concern about self-generated child sexual abuse material, which has become one of the fastest-growing categories of online abuse. If implemented effectively, device-level safeguards could become an important component of broader child protection strategies that also include platform responsibility, education initiatives and law enforcement action.

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New York passes child protection law targeting AI companion chatbots

New York State has approved legislation aimed at strengthening protections for minors interacting with AI chatbots, marking one of the first targeted regulatory efforts focused on AI companion technologies. The bill, known as S9051B, introduces restrictions on chatbot features that may encourage harmful emotional dependence or unsafe behaviour among young users.

The law prohibits AI systems from presenting themselves as real or fictional human beings in ways that could mislead minors and restricts outputs that encourage self-harm, disordered eating or other harmful behaviour. The legislation specifically targets design features that may foster emotional dependency between children and AI systems, reflecting growing concerns over their potential psychological effects.

Sponsored by Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Assemblymember Alex Bores, the legislation was developed in consultation with New York Attorney General Letitia James and child safety organisations, including Common Sense Media. Supporters of the bill argue that rapid advances in AI have outpaced existing safeguards, leaving young users vulnerable to emerging risks.

Supporters say the measure is part of a wider push for responsible AI governance in New York, focusing on transparency, accountability, and consumer protection. Advocacy groups involved in developing the legislation have pointed to real-world cases as evidence of the need for stronger oversight of emotionally interactive AI systems.

Why does it matter?

AI companion applications are becoming increasingly sophisticated and capable of sustaining long-term, emotionally engaging interactions with users. While these systems may provide entertainment, companionship or support, concerns have emerged about their potential influence on children and other vulnerable users.

By focusing on chatbot design features rather than solely on content moderation, New York’s legislation introduces a new approach to AI governance that could influence future regulatory efforts in the United States and beyond. The law also reflects growing attention to the psychological and social impacts of generative AI systems.

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Spain calls for United Nations Action on children’s digital rights

Spain has proposed the creation of a permanent multilateral working group within the UN to strengthen the regulation of digital environments and improve protections for children online.

The proposal was presented by Minister of Youth and Childhood, Sira Rego, during a ministerial roundtable at the Global Alliance of Pioneer Countries to End Violence Against Children in Turin.

According to Rego, stronger international cooperation is needed to regulate digital environments and protect children’s rights in response to abuses by major technology platforms. She said protecting children online requires regulations, rules, and control mechanisms that safeguard their rights and freedoms.

The proposal builds on earlier Ibero-American ministerial discussions on youth and childhood, during which countries agreed to establish an Ibero-American Observatory for the Well-being of Children, with a focus on protecting minors in digital environments. Spain is now proposing a similar approach within the UN framework.

A central element of Spain’s position is algorithmic transparency. Rego said algorithms are not neutral systems and can affect children’s ability to exercise their rights. She argued that such systems should be auditable and subject to democratic oversight by public authorities.

Alongside regulatory measures, Spain is advancing a National Strategy for Digital Environments to improve digital literacy among children, adolescents, and families. The strategy will combine education, pedagogical tools, and content creation to help protect children’s rights in digital spaces.

Why does it matter?

Spain’s proposal reflects growing pressure for international coordination on children’s digital rights. National rules alone often struggle to address platforms that operate across borders and use algorithmic systems that shape what children see, how they interact, and how their data is used. A UN-level working group could provide child online safety with a more permanent multilateral forum, especially on platform accountability and algorithmic transparency.

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UNICEF warns of AI risks to child online safety

UNICEF Vietnam has warned that rapid advances in AI are creating new risks for child online safety, including AI-generated child sexual abuse material and deepfakes.

The UNICEF Vietnam Representative, Silvia Danailov, issued a warning to mark International Children’s Day and Vietnam’s Month of Action for Children, which is held under the theme ‘Happy, safe and confident children in the digital world.’

Danailov said digital technologies can help children learn, connect, and develop future skills, but also create new forms of harm. She warned that generative AI can now be used to create highly realistic sexual images or videos of children without their knowledge or consent.

UNICEF, ECPAT, and INTERPOL research across 11 countries found that at least 1.2 million children reported that their images had been manipulated into sexually explicit deepfakes in the past year. Danailov said such harms can have lasting effects, even when images are digitally created, because children experience fear, shame, and loss of trust.

Nearly nine in ten children aged 12 to 17 in Vietnam are online, with many spending five to seven hours a day on the internet. Danailov said AI-driven risks add a new layer to existing challenges, such as cyberbullying and online exploitation, while also exposing inequalities between children who are supported online and those who are not.

Vietnam has strengthened its legal and policy framework, including a new government decree effective from 16 May 2026 that reinforces children’s right to privacy by prohibiting the disclosure of a child’s personal information without the child’s consent, when aged seven or older, and with the consent of their parents or caregivers.

The country has also approved the National Programme on Child Online Protection and Support for Development for 2026–2030, aimed at protecting children and empowering them as confident digital citizens through stronger legal frameworks, improved systems, education, and coordinated action.

UNICEF called for laws and enforcement to keep pace with technology, stronger child protection systems, safer platform design by technology companies, and better support for schools and families. Danailov also stressed that children must be heard and involved in creating safer digital environments.

Why does it matter?

The warning shows how generative AI is changing the landscape of child online safety. Children can now be harmed even without direct interaction with an offender, including through manipulated images and deepfake abuse. That makes child protection harder for families, schools, platforms, and regulators, and increases the need for safety-by-design, stronger reporting systems, legal safeguards, and trusted support channels for children.

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UK regulator launches AI-assisted review of gambling advertising

The UK Gambling Commission has announced a new compliance initiative targeting gambling advertising, following an enforcement notice issued by the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP). The measure aims to prevent gambling advertisements from having a strong appeal to people under 18.

From 11 June, CAP will conduct a monitoring exercise using its AI-powered Active Ad Monitoring System in collaboration with social media platforms. The review will assess whether gambling advertisements comply with rules intended to protect children and other vulnerable audiences.

Under the enforcement notice, businesses found to be in breach of the rules may be required to amend or remove advertisements without delay. Failure to comply could lead to sanctions, including referrals to hosting platforms or the Gambling Commission.

The Gambling Commission said operators must ensure that all advertising, including content published on social media, remains socially responsible and complies with CAP and Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) requirements.

Why does it matter?

Regulators are increasingly using AI tools to monitor online advertising at scale, particularly in areas where consumer protection concerns are significant. Gambling advertising remains a sensitive issue because of its potential impact on children and other vulnerable groups.

The initiative signals a more proactive approach to enforcement, combining automated monitoring with platform cooperation to identify problematic content more quickly and strengthen compliance with advertising standards.

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UNESCO launches online child safety training

UNESCO and India’s National Council of Educational Research and Training have launched a national training programme to help teachers, educators, and education professionals identify, prevent, and respond to online violence affecting children.

The five-day programme is delivered live from 1 to 5 June 2026 in English, followed by a Hindi edition from 8 to 12 June. It is broadcast on NCERT’s official YouTube channel and the PM e-VIDYA platform, as well as on DTH TV Channels 6–12. Certification is available through the DIKSHA platform.

The initiative aims to strengthen teacher capacity as children spend more time on social media, gaming platforms, and online learning tools. UNESCO said India has more than one billion internet subscribers, with young people among the country’s most active digital users.

The programme covers cyberbullying, online grooming, image-based abuse, exploitation, exposure to harmful content, hate speech, and misinformation. It also addresses the impact of online violence on children’s mental health, well-being, learning outcomes, and participation in education.

Sessions bring together expertise from education, child protection, mental health, law enforcement, and digital governance. Contributors include experts from UNESCO, AIIMS, the Ministry of Home Affairs, NITI Aayog, Delhi Police, and Dublin City University.

UNESCO reported that cybercrime cases against children in India rose from 232 in 2018 to 1,823 in 2022, almost an eight-fold increase. Between 2021 and 2022 alone, reported cases increased by 32%.

The programme aligns with India’s National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, both of which emphasise digital citizenship, learner safety, digital literacy, and ethical use of technology.

Why does it matter?

The training shows how child online safety is becoming part of education policy, not only cybercrime enforcement. By equipping teachers to recognise online harms and respond through referral pathways, UNESCO and NCERT are treating schools as part of the frontline response to cyberbullying, grooming, image-based abuse, misinformation, and other risks affecting children’s learning and well-being.

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