Child safety online Archives | Page 3 of 80

OpenAI advocates for global action on youth AI safety

OpenAI has called for stronger international action on youth AI safety, including the creation of a dedicated institute to support common evidence, guidance, and safeguards for young users.

Ahead of the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Évian, France, the company said governments, researchers, civil society, and industry should work together to raise standards for safe and age-appropriate AI use by children and teenagers.

OpenAI said a dedicated youth AI safety institute could provide continuity beyond a single summit, helping stakeholders share evidence, develop guidance, and keep standards aligned with fast-moving AI systems. The company said such a body could take the form of a new international institute or an existing or newly created national AI institute with a global mandate.

The principles outlined by OpenAI include privacy-preserving age estimation, default safeguards when a user’s age is uncertain, annual youth safety risk assessments, accessible parental controls, clearer transparency about youth protections, and stronger protocols for serious safety situations involving self-harm, exploitation, grooming, sexually exploitative content, and other high-risk interactions.

The company also called for stronger protection of minors’ personal information, including prohibitions on privacy-invasive targeted advertising to young people and the sale of their personal information. It also said youth safety frameworks should promote AI literacy, learning, creativity, skill development, and future opportunities.

OpenAI said AI tools can help young people understand difficult concepts, practise languages, improve writing, learn to code, organise research, explore creative ideas, and prepare for changing labour markets. However, it argued that safeguards, family and educator guidance, and clear accountability mechanisms such as independent audits should support access.

The proposal builds on existing youth safety initiatives and education partnerships, including work with Common Sense Media, educators, and national education deployments in countries such as Estonia, Greece, and Singapore.

Why does it matter?

Youth AI safety is becoming a central policy issue as children and teenagers increasingly use AI tools for learning, creativity, social interaction, and everyday digital tasks. OpenAI’s proposal adds to pressure for international coordination on age-appropriate design, privacy, parental controls, safety protocols, and independent accountability. The G7 context also shows that youth AI safety is moving from product policy into broader debates over digital governance and education policy.

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IWF, PIR and NetBeacon expand cooperation against online child abuse content

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has announced a new partnership with Public Interest Registry (PIR) and the NetBeacon Institute aimed at strengthening efforts to identify and disrupt online child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

The initiative introduces a reporting mechanism that enables suspected child sexual abuse content to be reported through NetBeacon Reporter alongside existing DNS abuse categories, including phishing, malware and spam. Reports are forwarded to IWF analysts, who assess the material under UK law and initiate appropriate action when illegal content is confirmed.

The partnership also expands registrars’ access to IWF domain protection services. Through PIR sponsorship, registrars will be able to access IWF Domain Alerts and the Top-Level Domain Hopping List free of charge.

According to the organisations, the programme already covers approximately 55 million domains and is intended to make it more difficult for criminals to use domain infrastructure to host or distribute child sexual abuse material.

Why does it matter?

Child sexual abuse material remains a significant online safety challenge, requiring coordination across platforms, hosting providers, registries and registrars. Integrating CSAM reporting into existing DNS abuse workflows could help speed up the identification of illegal content and improve coordination between reporting mechanisms and domain operators.

The initiative also reflects growing efforts to use domain-level tools and threat intelligence services to disrupt the infrastructure that supports the distribution of harmful and illegal content online.

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Greece advances digital transformation with AI, interoperability and cybersecurity measures

Greece’s Minister of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence, Dimitris Papastergiou, has outlined a broad digital transformation agenda in an interview with the newspaper Manifesto, highlighting new legislation, AI deployment, cybersecurity measures and digital public services.

A key element of the agenda is the implementation of the EU’s ‘once-only’ principle, which allows citizens and businesses in Greece to avoid repeatedly submitting the same information to public authorities across the EU. The legislation also introduces more than 800 new interoperability connections between government systems, aiming to reduce bureaucracy and improve service delivery.

Papastergiou highlighted the growing use of AI in public administration, including the mAigov digital assistant, which has handled more than 4.4 million citizen queries. Greece is also investing in AI infrastructure projects, including the Daedalus supercomputer and the Pharos AI Factory, while preparing national legislation aligned with the EU AI Act.

The minister also highlighted a memorandum of understanding with voice AI company ElevenLabs aimed at improving accessibility and public services through voice-based technologies. Additional initiatives include the creation of a Unified Property Hub, stronger anti-phishing measures, a National Malicious Websites Blocking List, the Defective Vehicle Recall Registry and enhancements to the MyStreet application.

On child online safety, Greece plans to introduce age-verification requirements for users under 15 through the Kids Wallet application from January 2027. According to the minister, the system will verify age without exposing or storing unnecessary personal information.

Why does it matter?

Greece’s plans illustrate how governments are increasingly combining AI deployment, digital public services and cybersecurity measures within broader digital transformation strategies.

The initiatives also reflect wider European efforts to improve interoperability, strengthen digital infrastructure, enhance online safety for children and prepare for the implementation of the EU AI Act.

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UK strengthens Online Safety Act protections against intimate image abuse

The UK Government has announced an amendment to Ofcom’s Illegal Content Codes of Practice under the Online Safety Act, introducing new measures to tackle non-consensual intimate images. The update was outlined in by the Minister for AI and Online Safety, Kanishka Narayan.

The amendment requires relevant online services to use perceptual hash-matching technologies, or equivalent tools, to identify and prevent the re-upload of known non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated intimate image deepfakes.

According to the government, the change strengthens the framework established by Ofcom’s Illegal Content Codes of Practice, which entered into force in 2025. The updated approach aims to ensure that once abusive content has been identified and removed, systems are in place to prevent it from being repeatedly shared.

The amendment has been laid before Parliament for scrutiny and will take effect if neither House objects. The government said the measure is intended to strengthen protections for victims, particularly women and girls, and forms part of the ongoing implementation of the Online Safety Act in the UK.

Why does it matter?

Governments and regulators are increasingly treating AI-generated intimate imagery as a form of image-based abuse alongside authentic non-consensual intimate content. As generative AI tools make it easier to create and distribute realistic deepfakes, policymakers are looking for mechanisms to prevent harmful content from repeatedly reappearing online.

The UK’s proposal reflects a broader trend towards requiring platforms to deploy technical measures that can identify and block known abusive content while strengthening protections for victims of online harms.

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UNICEF event to examine AI learning outcomes

A gLocal Evaluation Week 2026 session will examine how to measure the impact of AI on learning outcomes for children and adolescents.

The event, titled ‘Measuring AI impact on learning outcomes’, is scheduled for 2 June and will focus on evidence gaps around AI use in education, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The session will discuss how AI is entering classrooms through personalised learning, tutoring, and teaching tools. UNICEF says some applications show promising results, but many AI tools used across the region lack rigorous impact-focused evaluation measures needed to assess whether they improve learning outcomes and can be scaled effectively.

The discussion will bring together government, research, and evaluation experts to assess existing evidence, identify promising results, and examine gaps in measuring AI’s contribution to learning outcomes at scale.

Participants will also consider unintended effects, including bias and the exclusion of marginalised groups. UNICEF says policymakers still face uncertainty over what works, for whom, and under what conditions when deciding whether to invest in AI tools for education.

Speakers listed for the session include Fiorella Haim of Ceibal, Martín Elías De Simone of the World Bank, Juliette Norrmen-Smith of UNICEF’s Office of Innovation, María Paz Monge of J-PAL-LAC, and Michael Craft of UNICEF. The event will include simultaneous Spanish-English interpretation.

Why does it matter?

The session highlights a key challenge in AI and education: adoption is moving faster than evidence. As AI tools enter classrooms, policymakers need stronger evaluation methods to determine whether they improve learning outcomes, work for different groups of children, and risk reinforcing bias or exclusion.

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G7 digital and technology ministers agree on priorities on AI, resilience and online child safety

G7 digital and technology ministers have agreed on priorities covering secure AI, AI openness, digital sector resilience and online safety for minors following a meeting in Paris under France’s presidency. Ministers said digital technologies are central to innovation, productivity and competitiveness, while also creating new challenges for users, businesses and service providers.

The statement reaffirmed support for Data Free Flow with Trust, while highlighting privacy, data protection, intellectual property and security considerations. Ministers also welcomed G7 work on semiconductors, digital standards, quantum technologies, and competition in AI inputs, including computing power, data, energy, and talent.

On AI, ministers said secure, responsible and trustworthy systems are needed to maintain public trust and support adoption. They welcomed the revised Hiroshima AI Process Reporting Framework and said France’s presidency would start discussions with stakeholders, the OECD, and members of the International Network for Advanced AI Measurement, Evaluation and Science to improve comparability between AI risk assessment frameworks.

The G7 also backed a Vision on AI Openness, intended to clarify terminology and support access to open-source and open-weight AI approaches. Ministers said AI openness can help diffuse AI, support research collaboration, and contribute to innovation and economic growth, while clearer language can reduce ambiguity and support trust.

Ministers also supported a G7 SME AI Readiness Tool, developed with the OECD and in cooperation with the G7 Social-Employment working group. The tool is expected to be made available through the G7 AI Training Hub to help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises assess their digital and AI readiness, improve AI literacy and lower adoption barriers.

The statement also addresses digital and AI sector resilience, resource efficiency and growing pressure on energy grids and digital infrastructure. On child online safety, ministers supported a Common G7 Set of Principles for a safe and secure digital space for minors, covering digital literacy, AI education, risk mitigation by digital service providers, support for parents and guardians, and protection against online harms.

Why does it matter?

The G7 statement reflects growing international coordination around AI governance, digital resilience and online child safety. By addressing AI risk assessment, openness, SME adoption and digital infrastructure pressures in one framework, ministers are linking technological innovation with trust, security and economic competitiveness.

The agreement also signals that online safety for minors is becoming a core part of digital policy cooperation among major economies, particularly as AI systems and digital platforms play a larger role in children’s online experiences.

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IWF and CaseScan partner to strengthen the detection of child abuse material

The Internet Watch Foundation has announced a new partnership with CaseScan aimed at improving the detection and identification of child sexual abuse material online.

CaseScan, a specialist technology company supporting child protection investigations and digital safety work, has joined the IWF as a member. The company develops tools that help specialist teams identify, classify, and prioritise illegal material more efficiently, reducing manual workloads and supporting faster responses when criminal content is found.

Through its membership, CaseScan will be able to draw on IWF intelligence and services to strengthen how it helps approved clients detect child sexual abuse material. The IWF said the collaboration will support faster identification of criminal content.

The partnership comes amid a rapidly evolving online threat landscape. According to the IWF’s 2025 Annual Data & Insights Report, new technologies, systemic vulnerabilities, and the continued distribution of child sexual abuse material are increasing the challenges faced by investigators and online safety organisations.

CaseScan said the collaboration will strengthen its ability to support professionals working on the front line of child protection investigations. The IWF said industry partnerships are essential to disrupting the criminal distribution of abusive images and videos and preventing the repeated victimisation of children online.

Why does it matter?

The partnership shows how child safety organisations and specialist technology providers are working to improve the speed and accuracy of CSAM detection. As the volume and complexity of illegal material online grow, trusted intelligence and specialist detection tools can help investigators and approved organisations prioritise cases, reduce manual review burdens, and respond more quickly to harmful content.

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EU welcomes G7 adoption of online child protection principles

The European Commission has welcomed a new agreement by G7 digital and technology ministers on a shared set of principles aimed at improving online safety for children and teenagers. The principles reflect approaches already present in several EU initiatives, including measures focused on online safety, digital literacy and the protection of minors.

The principles build on existing EU measures, including the Digital Services Act, the Better Internet for Kids Strategy and the AI Act. They focus on improving online safety while safeguarding privacy, fundamental rights and access to digital opportunities.

The framework promotes safety-by-design measures, privacy-conscious age assurance tools, stronger protections against harmful and illegal content, parental controls, and digital literacy initiatives. It also promotes greater cooperation between technology companies, researchers, governments and civil society organisations.

Why does it matter?

Governments are increasingly examining how digital platforms, recommendation systems and generative AI tools affect children’s wellbeing, privacy and online experiences. Concerns about harmful content, exploitation and age-inappropriate services have prompted policymakers worldwide to explore new approaches to online child protection.

The G7 agreement signals growing international convergence around child safety principles, while emphasising the need to balance protection measures with privacy, fundamental rights and access to digital opportunities.

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EU launches consultation on trusted flagger guidelines under the DSA

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on draft guidelines for trusted flaggers under the Digital Services Act, aiming to establish a clearer and more consistent framework for organisations that identify and report illegal online content.

Trusted flaggers are specialised entities whose notices about illegal content must be prioritised by online platforms under the DSA. Platforms remain responsible for assessing whether the reported content is illegal.

More than 70 trusted flaggers have already been designated across the EU, covering areas such as child sexual abuse material, intellectual property infringements, online fraud, financial scams, and online harassment.

The proposed guidelines clarify the criteria and procedures used by national Digital Services Coordinators to grant trusted flagger status. They also set out technical requirements for trusted flaggers and platforms when processing notices of illegal content.

The draft guidelines include safeguards intended to ensure that trusted flaggers remain independent, objective, and accountable while operating in full respect of freedom of expression. They also include measures to prevent misuse of the mechanism, including public annual transparency reports and procedures to suspend or revoke trusted flagger status.

The Commission is inviting feedback from platforms, trusted flaggers, applicants, researchers, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders until 26 June 2026. Following the consultation, the Commission plans to adopt the final guidelines in the second half of 2026.

Why does it matter?

Trusted flaggers are becoming an important procedural tool in the EU’s online safety framework. Clearer rules could improve the reporting and handling of illegal content while reducing fragmentation across member states. The safeguards are also important because prioritised notices must be balanced with accountability, transparency, and protection of freedom of expression.

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G7 agrees on the first common principles on protecting children online

G7 digital ministers have agreed a shared set of principles for protecting children and young people from online harm for the first time, marking the first coordinated approach adopted by the group on the issue. The agreement, reached during talks in Paris, sets shared principles for addressing risks linked to harmful content, exploitation and the use of AI chatbots.

The principles call for stronger digital literacy, robust online safety practices by digital service providers and safety measures built into digital services from the start. The agreement also sets expectations for effective age assurance and closer cooperation between providers, children, parents and guardians.

Ministers also called for improved access to data and research on how digital services affect children’s well-being, including greater cooperation among platforms, researchers and families. UK Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: ‘The agreements we have reached today are an important step on that journey: outlining a shared approach to protecting our children, backing our small businesses to adopt AI, and ensuring AI is developed safely and responsibly.’

The G7 also reaffirmed its commitment to promoting trustworthy AI while continuing discussions on assessing and managing AI-related risks. Under France’s presidency, members agreed to continue discussions on a mutual understanding of AI risk assessment frameworks, including in relation to cyberattacks and chemical and biological capabilities.

Ministers also backed support for small and medium-sized enterprises to adopt AI through a tool developed with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). G7 members also agreed a Vision on AI Openness and committed to further work on AI-generated content detection, secure AI systems, trusted data flows, and resource-efficient digital and AI infrastructure.

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