Child safety online

EU regulators, UK and eSafety lead the global push to protect children in the digital world

Children today spend a significant amount of their time online, from learning and playing to communicating.

To protect them in an increasingly digital world, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, the European Commission’s DG CNECT, and the UK’s Ofcom have joined forces to strengthen global cooperation on child online safety.

The partnership aims to ensure that online platforms take greater responsibility for protecting and empowering children, recognising their rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The three regulators will continue to enforce their online safety laws to ensure platforms properly assess and mitigate risks to children. They will promote privacy-preserving age verification technologies and collaborate with civil society and academics to ensure that regulations reflect real-world challenges.

By supporting digital literacy and critical thinking, they aim to provide children and families with safer and more confident online experiences.

To advance the work, a new trilateral technical group will be established to deepen collaboration on age assurance. It will study the interoperability and reliability of such systems, explore the latest technologies, and strengthen the evidence base for regulatory action.

Through closer cooperation, the regulators hope to create a more secure and empowering digital environment for young people worldwide.

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TikTok faces scrutiny over AI moderation and UK staff cuts

TikTok has responded to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee regarding proposed cuts to its UK Trust and Safety teams. The company claimed that reducing staff while expanding AI, third-party specialists, and more localised teams would improve moderation effectiveness.

The social media platform, however, did not provide any supporting data or risk assessment to justify these changes. MPs previously called for more transparency on content moderation data during an inquiry into social media, misinformation, and harmful algorithms.

TikTok’s increasing reliance on AI comes amid broader concerns over AI safety, following reports of chatbots encouraging harmful behaviours.

Committee Chair Dame Chi Onwurah expressed concern that AI cannot reliably replace human moderators. She warned AI could cause harm and criticised TikTok for not providing evidence that staff cuts would protect users.

The Committee urges the Government and Ofcom to take action to ensure user safety before implementing staffing reductions. Dame Onwurah emphasised that without credible data, it is impossible to determine whether the changes will effectively protect users.

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Meta, TikTok and Snapchat prepare to block under-16s as Australia enforces social media ban

Social media platforms, including Meta, TikTok and Snapchat, will begin sending notices to more than a million Australian teens, telling them to download their data, freeze their profiles or lose access when the national ban for under-16s comes into force on 10 December.

According to people familiar with the plans, platforms will deactivate accounts believed to belong to users under the age of 16. About 20 million Australians who are older will not be affected. However, this marks a shift from the year-long opposition seen from tech firms, which warned the rules would be intrusive or unworkable.

Companies plan to rely on their existing age-estimation software, which predicts age from behaviour signals such as likes and engagement patterns. Only users who challenge a block will be pushed to the age assurance apps. These tools estimate age from a selfie and, if disputed, allow users to upload ID. Trials show they work, but accuracy drops for 16- and 17-year-olds.

Yoti’s Chief Policy Officer, Julie Dawson, said disruption should be brief, with users adapting within a few weeks. Meta, Snapchat, TikTok and Google declined to comment. In earlier hearings, most respondents stated that they would comply.

The law blocks teenagers from using mainstream platforms without any parental override. It follows renewed concern over youth safety after internal Meta documents in 2021 revealed harm linked to heavy social media use.

A smooth rollout is expected to influence other countries as they explore similar measures. France, Denmark, Florida and the UK have pursued age checks with mixed results due to concerns over privacy and practicality.

Consultants say governments are watching to see whether Australia’s requirement for platforms to take ‘reasonable steps’ to block minors, including trying to detect VPN use, works in practice without causing significant disruption for other users.

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UK moves to curb AI-generated child abuse imagery with pre-release testing

The UK government plans to let approved organisations test AI models before release to ensure they cannot generate child sexual abuse material. The amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill aims to build safeguards into AI tools at the design stage rather than after deployment.

The Internet Watch Foundation reported 426 AI-related abuse cases this year, up from 199 in 2024. Chief Executive Kerry Smith said the move could make AI products safer before they are launched. The proposal also extends to detecting extreme pornography and non-consensual intimate images.

The NSPCC’s Rani Govender welcomed the reform but said testing should be mandatory to make child safety part of product design. Earlier this year, the Home Office introduced new offences for creating or distributing AI tools used to produce abusive imagery, punishable by up to five years in prison.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the law would ensure that trusted groups can verify the safety of AI systems. In contrast, Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said it would help prevent predators from exploiting legitimate tools.

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Brussels leak signals GDPR and AI Act adjustments

The European Commission is preparing a Digital Package on simplification for 19 November. A leaked draft outlines instruments covering GDPR, ePrivacy, Data Act and AI Act reforms.

Plans include a single breach portal and a higher reporting threshold. Authorities would receive notifications within 96 hours, with standardised forms and narrower triggers. Controllers could reject or charge for data subject access requests used to pursue disputes.

Cookie rules would shift toward browser-level preference signals respected across services. Aggregated measurement and security uses would not require popups, while GDPR lawful bases expand. News publishers could receive limited exemptions recognising reliance on advertising revenues.

Drafting recognises legitimate interest for training AI models on personal data. Narrow allowances are provided for sensitive data during development, along with EU-wide data protection impact assessment templates. Critics warn proposals dilute safeguards and may soften the AI Act.

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UK strengthens AI safeguards to protect children online

The UK government is introducing landmark legislation to prevent AI from being exploited to generate child sexual abuse material. The new law empowers authorised bodies, such as the Internet Watch Foundation, to test AI models and ensure safeguards prevent misuse.

Reports of AI-generated child abuse imagery have surged, with the IWF recording 426 cases in 2025, more than double the 199 cases reported in 2024. The data also reveals a sharp rise in images depicting infants, increasing from five in 2024 to 92 in 2025.

Officials say the measures will enable experts to identify vulnerabilities within AI systems, making it more difficult for offenders to exploit the technology.

The legislation will also require AI developers to build protections against non-consensual intimate images and extreme content. A group of experts in AI and child safety will be established to oversee secure testing and ensure the well-being of researchers.

Ministers emphasised that child safety must be built into AI systems from the start, not added as an afterthought.

By collaborating with the AI sector and child protection groups, the government aims to make the UK the safest place for children to be online. The approach strikes a balance between innovation and strong protections, thereby reinforcing public trust in AI.

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Denmark’s new chat control plan raises fresh privacy concerns

Denmark has proposed an updated version of the EU’s controversial ‘chat control’ regulation, shifting from mandatory to voluntary scanning of private messages. Former MEP Patrick Breyer has warned, however, that the revision still threatens Europeans’ right to private communication.

Under the new plan, messaging providers could choose to scan chats for illegal material, but without a clear requirement for court orders. Breyer argued that this sidesteps the European Parliament’s position, which insists on judicial authorisation before any access to communications.

He also criticised the proposal for banning under-16s from using messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, claiming such restrictions would prove ineffective and easily bypassed. In addition, the plan would effectively outlaw anonymous communication, requiring users to verify their identities through IDs.

Privacy advocates say the Danish proposal could set a dangerous precedent by eroding fundamental digital rights. Civil society groups have urged EU lawmakers to reject measures that compromise secure, anonymous communication essential for journalists and whistleblowers.

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OpenAI unveils Teen Safety Blueprint for responsible AI

OpenAI has launched the Teen Safety Blueprint to guide responsible AI use for young people. The roadmap guides policymakers and developers on age-appropriate design, safeguards, and research to protect teen well-being and promote opportunities.

The company is implementing these principles across its products without waiting for formal regulation. Recent measures include stronger safeguards, parental controls, and an age-prediction system to customise AI experiences for under-18 users.

OpenAI emphasises that protecting teens is an ongoing effort. Collaboration with parents, experts, and young people will help improve AI safety continuously while shaping how technology can support teens responsibly over the long term.

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New law aims to make the internet safer in Singapore

Singapore’s Parliament has passed the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Bill, a landmark law designed to provide faster protection and redress for victims of online harm. After over eight hours of debate, MPs approved the Bill, which will establish the Online Safety Commission (OSC) by June 2026, a one-stop agency empowered to direct online platforms, group administrators, and internet service providers to remove harmful content or restrict the accounts of perpetrators.

The move follows findings that social media platforms often take five days or more to act on harmful content reports, leaving victims exposed to harassment and abuse.

The new law introduces civil remedies and enforcement powers for a wide range of online harms, including harassment, doxing, stalking, intimate image abuse, and child exploitation. Victims can seek compensation for lost income or force perpetrators to surrender profits gained from harmful acts.

In severe cases, individuals or entities that ignore OSC orders may face fines of up to S$500,000, and daily penalties may be applied until compliance is achieved. The OSC can also order access blocks or app removals for persistent offenders.

Ministers Josephine Teo, Rahayu Mahzam, and Edwin Tong emphasised that the Bill aims to empower victims rather than punish expression, while ensuring privacy safeguards. Victims will be able to request the disclosure of a perpetrator’s identity to pursue civil claims, though misuse of such data, such as doxing in retaliation, will be an offence. The law also introduces a ‘no wrong door’ approach, ensuring that victims will not have to navigate multiple agencies to seek help.

Singapore joins a small group of nations, such as Australia, that have created specialised agencies for digital safety. The government hopes the OSC will help rebuild trust in online spaces and establish new norms for digital behaviour.

As Minister Teo noted, ‘Our collective well-being is compromised when those who are harmed are denied restitution. By fostering trust in online spaces, Singaporeans can participate safely and confidently in our digital society.’

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Social media platforms ordered to enforce minimum age rules in Australia

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has formally notified major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube, that they must comply with new minimum age restrictions from 10 December.

The rule will require these services to prevent social media users under 16 from creating accounts.

eSafety determined that nine popular services currently meet the definition of age-restricted platforms since their main purpose is to enable online social interaction. Platforms that fail to take reasonable steps to block underage users may face enforcement measures, including fines of up to 49.5 million dollars.

The agency clarified that the list of age-restricted platforms will not remain static, as new services will be reviewed and reassessed over time. Others, such as Discord, Google Classroom, and WhatsApp, are excluded for now as they do not meet the same criteria.

Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the new framework aims to delay children’s exposure to social media and limit harmful design features such as infinite scroll and opaque algorithms.

She emphasised that age limits are only part of a broader effort to build safer, more age-appropriate online environments supported by education, prevention, and digital resilience.

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