Child safety online

Winnipeg schools embrace AI as classroom learning tool

At General Wolfe School and other Winnipeg classrooms, students are using AI tools to help with tasks such as translating language and understanding complex terms, with teachers guiding them on how to verify AI-generated information against reliable sources.

Teachers are cautious but optimistic, developing a thinking framework that prioritises critical thinking and human judgement alongside AI use rather than rigid policies as the technology evolves.

Educators in the Winnipeg School Division are adapting teaching methods to incorporate AI while discouraging over-reliance, stressing that students should use AI as an aid rather than a substitute for learning.

This reflects broader discussions in education about how to balance innovation with foundational skills as AI becomes more commonplace in school environments.

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France weighs social media ban for under 15s

France’s health watchdog has warned that social media harms adolescent mental health, particularly among younger girls. The assessment is based on a five-year scientific review of existing research.

ANSES said online platforms amplify harmful pressures, cyberbullying and unrealistic beauty standards. Experts found that girls, LGBT youths and vulnerable teens face higher psychological risks.

France is debating legislation to ban social media access for children under 15. President Emmanuel Macron supports stronger age restrictions and platform accountability.

The watchdog urged changes to algorithms and default settings to prioritise child well-being. Similar debates have emerged globally following Australia’s introduction of a teenage platform ban.

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AI deepfake abuse drives rise in victim support cases

Rising concern surrounds the growing number of people seeking help after becoming victims of AI-generated intimate deepfakes in Guernsey, part of the UK. Support services report a steady increase in cases.

Existing law criminalises sharing intimate images without consent, but AI-generated creations remain legal. Proposed reforms aim to close this gap and strengthen victim protection.

Police and support charities warn that deepfakes cause severe emotional harm and are challenging to prosecute. Cross-border platforms and anonymous perpetrators complicate enforcement and reporting.

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UAE faces faster cyber threats powered by AI

Rising use of AI is transforming cyberattacks in the UAE, enabling deepfakes, automated phishing and rapid data theft. Expanding digital services increase exposure for businesses and residents.

Criminals deploy autonomous AI tools to scan networks, exploit weaknesses and steal information faster than humans. Shorter detection windows raise risks of breaches, disruption and financial loss.

High-value sectors such as government, finance and healthcare face sustained targeting amid skills shortages. Protection relies on cautious users, stronger governance and secure-by-design systems across smart infrastructure.

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AI-generated images raise consent concerns in the UK

UK lawmaker Jess Asato said an AI-altered image depicting her in a bikini circulated online. The incident follows wider reports of sexualised deepfake abuse targeting women on social media.

Platforms hosted thousands of comments, including further manipulated images, heightening distress. Victims describe the content as realistic, dehumanising and violating personal consent.

Government ministers of the UK pledged to ban nudification tools and criminalise non-consensual intimate images. Technology firms face pressure to remove content, suspend accounts, and follow Ofcom guidance to maintain a safe online environment.

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UK considers social media limits for youth

Keir Starmer has told Labour MPs that he is open to an Australian-style ban on social media for young people, following concerns about the amount of time children spend on screens.

The prime minister said reports of very young children using phones for hours each day have increased anxiety about the effects of digital platforms on under-16s.

Starmer previously opposed such a ban, arguing that enforcement would prove difficult and might instead push teenagers towards unregulated online spaces rather than safer platforms. Growing political momentum across Westminster, combined with Australia’s decision to act, has led to a reassessment of that position.

Speaking to MPs, Starmer said different enforcement approaches were being examined and added that phone use during school hours should be restricted.

UK ministers have also revisited earlier proposals aimed at reducing the addictive design of social media and strengthening safeguards on devices sold to teenagers.

Support for stricter measures has emerged across party lines, with senior figures from Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK signalling openness to a ban.

A final decision is expected within months as ministers weigh child safety, regulation and practical implementation.

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Grok controversy fuels political backlash in Northern Ireland

A Northern Ireland politician, Cara Hunter of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), has quit X after renewed concerns over Grok AI misuse. She cited failures to protect women and children online.

The decision follows criticism of Grok AI features enabling non-consensual sexualised images. UK regulators have launched investigations under online safety laws.

UK ministers plan to criminalise creating intimate deepfakes and supplying related tools. Ofcom is examining whether X breached its legal duties.

Political leaders and rights groups say enforcement must go further. X says it removes illegal content and has restricted Grok image functions on the social media.

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EU warns X over Grok AI image abuse

The European Commission has warned X to address issues related to its Grok AI tool. Regulators say new features enabled the creation of sexualised images, including those of children.

EU Tech Sovereignty Commissioner Henna Virkkunen has stated that investigators have already taken action under the Digital Services Act. Failure to comply could result in enforcement measures being taken against the platform.

X recently restricted Grok’s image editing functions to paying users after criticism from regulators and campaigners. Irish and EU media watchdogs are now engaging with Brussels on the issue.

UK ministers also plan laws banning non-consensual intimate images and tools enabling their creation. Several digital rights groups argue that existing laws already permit criminal investigations and fines.

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New Spanish bill targets AI misuse of images and voices

Spain’s government has approved draft legislation that would tighten consent rules for AI-generated content, aiming to curb deepfakes and strengthen protections for the use of people’s images and voices. The proposal responds to growing concerns in Europe about AI being used to create harmful material, especially sexual content produced without the subject’s permission.

Under the draft, the minimum age to consent to the use of one’s own image would be set at 16, and stricter limits would apply to reusing images found online or reproducing a person’s voice or likeness through AI without authorisation. Spain’s Justice Minister Félix Bolaños warned that sharing personal photos on social media should not be treated as blanket approval for others to reuse them in different contexts.

The reform explicitly targets commercial misuse by classifying the use of AI-generated images or voices for advertising or other business purposes without consent as illegitimate. At the same time, it would still allow creative, satirical, or fictional uses involving public figures, so long as the material is clearly labelled as AI-generated.

Spain’s move aligns with broader EU efforts, as the bloc is working toward rules that would require member states to criminalise non-consensual sexual deepfakes by 2027. The push comes amid rising scrutiny of AI tools and real-world cases that have intensified calls for more precise legal boundaries, including a recent request by the Spanish government for prosecutors to review whether specific AI-generated material could fall under child pornography laws.

The bill is not yet final. It must go through a public consultation process before returning to the government for final approval and then heading to parliament.

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Malta plans tougher laws against deepfake abuse

Malta’s government is preparing new legal measures to curb the abusive use of deepfake technology, with existing laws now under review. The planned reforms aim to introduce penalties for the misuse of AI in cases of harassment, blackmail, and bullying.

The move mirrors earlier cyberbullying and cyberstalking laws, extending similar protections to AI-generated content. Authorities are promoting AI while stressing the need for strong public safety and legal safeguards.

AI and youth participation were the main themes discussed during the National Youth Parliament meeting, where Abela highlighted the role of young people in shaping Malta’s long-term development strategy, Vision Malta 2050.

The strategy focuses on the next 25 years and directly affects those entering the workforce or starting families.

Young people were described as key drivers of national policy in areas such as fertility, environmental protection, and work-life balance. Senior officials and members of the Youth Advisory Forum attended the meeting.

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