Children’s rights

UK committee urges stronger online safety protections

The UK Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee has urged the government to strengthen online safety protections for young people, following evidence on proposals to restrict social media access for under-16s.

Committee Chair Dame Chi Onwurah wrote to Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall and AI and Online Safety Minister Kanishka Narayan after an evidence session on age-based restrictions.

The committee said there is strong and consistent evidence of significant individual harms linked to social media use, alongside a growing body of evidence showing wider negative impacts. It said there is a clear need to protect people, especially young users, from those harms.

The letter argues that responsibility for preventing harm should not rest solely on young people or parents. It says government inaction on online safety is not an option and calls for stronger enforcement of existing age restrictions

The committee also urged the government to revisit its July 2025 report on social media misinformation. Although the government accepted almost all of the report’s conclusions, the committee said it rejected almost all recommendations for change. It is now calling for action on misinformation, harmful algorithms, and online harms in the new parliamentary session.

Dame Chi Onwurah said: ‘The status quo, where social media companies are neither accountable nor responsible for preventing harms, isn’t acceptable. It’s clear social media can cause real harm and more must be done to protect people, especially young users. If any other consumer product caused these harms, it would’ve been recalled or changed. Shouldn’t the same be true for social media services and design features?’

She added: ‘The government must urgently address gaps in the regulation, legislation and enforcement of online safety. It should revisit and adopt my committee’s previous recommendations on tackling misinformation and harmful algorithms and bring forward legislation to effectively tackle online harms in the new parliamentary session.’

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AI governance priorities outlined by EU at UN dialogue

The European Union has called for the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance to focus on responsible innovation, human rights, capacity-building and stronger interoperability between AI governance frameworks.

In a statement delivered on behalf of the EU and its member states, the bloc said the dialogue should examine AI’s social, economic, ethical, cultural, linguistic, technical and environmental implications. It also argued that responsible AI innovation should be framed not only as a risk-management challenge, but also as an opportunity for public benefit in areas such as education and government.

The EU urged participants to address who controls the data, compute and value chains behind AI systems. It also highlighted linguistic and cultural diversity, warning that AI systems trained mainly on a limited number of languages can produce less accurate and more costly outputs for speakers of underrepresented languages.

Capacity-building was presented as a core condition for effective AI governance, particularly for developing countries. The EU said countries and institutions need the skills, systems and human capacity to evaluate, question and deploy AI responsibly, while treating AI infrastructure as a matter of public interest rather than only market access or proprietary control.

The statement also identified agentic AI as an emerging governance frontier, arguing that such systems raise new questions around accountability, oversight and control that existing frameworks do not yet adequately address.

On safe and trustworthy AI, the EU called for greater compatibility between governance approaches to prevent regulatory arbitrage and support responsible cross-border deployment. It said trust should not rely only on self-assessment or voluntary disclosure, but also on auditability, traceability, validation mechanisms, certification approaches and evaluation frameworks for high-risk systems.

The EU also urged a human-centric, human rights-based approach grounded in international law. It identified AI-facilitated gender-based violence, harmful AI-generated content affecting children and older persons, manipulative algorithmic systems, data exploitation and AI-enabled surveillance as areas requiring dedicated attention.

The statement called for the UN dialogue to build on existing initiatives, including those led by UNESCO, ITU, UNDP, OHCHR, GPAI, the Council of Europe, the Hiroshima Process and AI summit processes. The EU also supported more interactive thematic sessions, continuity between dialogue editions and a co-chairs’ summary reflecting both converging and diverging views.

Why does it matter?

The EU statement shows how global AI governance debates are moving beyond broad principles towards questions of implementation, institutional capacity and interoperability between frameworks. By linking AI infrastructure, human rights, auditability and agentic AI, the EU is signalling that future international coordination will need to address both today’s deployment risks and the governance challenges posed by more autonomous systems.

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Ofcom investigates adult platforms under Online Safety Act age-check rules

Ofcom has opened investigations into the providers of pimpbunny.com and kemono.cr to assess their compliance with age-check rules under the UK’s Online Safety Act.

The regulator said pornography services must use ‘highly effective’ age checks to determine whether users are over 18 before allowing access to pornographic material. The investigations will examine whether there are reasonable grounds to believe the providers have failed, or are failing, to comply with those duties.

Ofcom said it prioritised action against the providers based on the risk of harm posed by their services. The regulator took account of user numbers, including significant increases in traffic since age-check laws came into force last summer.

Separately, Ofcom has issued a provisional decision concerning fapello.com, saying it has reasonable grounds to believe the provider is in breach of its duties under the Online Safety Act. Fapello can make representations before Ofcom reaches a final decision.

Ofcom also expanded its ongoing investigation into XGroovy to examine whether it failed to respond adequately to formal information requests from the regulator. The developments form part of wider UK enforcement efforts around online child safety, age assurance and platform accountability under the Online Safety Act.

Why does it matter?

The investigations show that Ofcom is moving from guidance to enforcement under the UK’s Online Safety Act, particularly for services hosting pornographic material. Age assurance has become a central test of the UK’s child online safety regime, with regulators assessing not only whether platforms have age checks in place, but whether those checks are effective enough to prevent children from readily accessing explicit content.

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Data Protection Act regulations bring AI code requirement into force

The UK has brought into force regulations requiring the Information Commissioner to prepare a code of practice on the processing of personal data in relation to AI and automated decision-making.

The Data Protection Act 2018 (Code of Practice on Artificial Intelligence and Automated Decision-Making) Regulations 2026 were made on 16 April, laid before Parliament on 21 April, and came into force on 12 May. The regulations apply across England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Under the regulations, the Information Commissioner must prepare a code giving guidance on good practice in the processing of personal data under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 when developing and using AI and automated decision-making systems.

The code must also include guidance on good practice in the processing of children’s personal data. Automated decision-making is defined by reference to provisions in the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 inserted through the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

The instrument also modifies the panel requirements for preparing or amending the code. Any panel established to consider the code must not consider or report on aspects relating to national security.

The explanatory note states that no full impact assessment was prepared for the instrument because the regulations themselves are not expected to have a significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors. The Information Commissioner must produce an impact assessment when preparing the code.

Why does it matter?

The regulations move UK guidance on AI, automated decision-making and personal data onto a statutory track. The eventual code could become an important reference point for organisations using AI systems that process personal data, particularly where automated decisions or children’s data are involved. For now, the main development is procedural: the Information Commissioner is required to prepare the code, while the practical compliance details will follow through that process.

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Meta gives parents deeper insight into teen algorithms

Meta has introduced new supervision features designed to give parents greater visibility into the content shaping teenagers’ experiences on Instagram.

The updated tools allow parents and guardians to view the general topics their teens engage with through Instagram’s ‘Your Algorithm’ feature, which helps shape recommendations on Reels and Explore. Meta said parents in selected markets will soon receive notifications when teens add new interests, such as basketball, photography or musicals, helping explain why recommended content may change over time.

The company said the feature remains subject to existing teen safety protections and content restrictions already applied to Teen Accounts, including limits on certain content for users aged 13 and above and enforcement of Meta’s Community Standards.

Meta has also consolidated supervision tools for Instagram, Facebook, Messenger and Meta Horizon into a single Family Centre hub. Parents can now manage supervised accounts, safety settings and invitations across multiple apps without switching between separate platforms.

Meta said the number of US teens enrolled in supervision on Instagram has more than doubled over the past year. Additional updates planned for the coming months include aggregated activity insights, such as total time spent across Meta’s apps, to give families broader visibility into teen online habits.

Why does it matter?

The update shows how major platforms are responding to pressure for greater transparency around their recommendation systems, particularly regarding teenagers. While the tools do not reveal the full logic of Instagram’s algorithm, they give parents more visibility into the interest categories shaping teen content feeds and create another layer of oversight around personalised recommendations, screen time and online safety.

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AI education guidelines updated by European Commission

Updated European Commission guidelines on the ethical use of AI and data in teaching and learning aim to help teachers and school leaders use the technology safely and responsibly in line with EU values.

The revised edition updates the Commission’s 2022 guidance to reflect the rapid growth of generative AI in education and the implications of the EU AI Act. The document is non-binding and is intended to support teachers, school leaders and education authorities, rather than serve as enforcement guidance on the AI Act.

AI tools can support lesson planning, personalised learning, assessment, feedback, school administration and the early identification of learning needs, according to the guidelines. At the same time, they warn that general-purpose AI tools were not designed specifically for education and may lack appropriate safeguards.

Ethical and legal considerations should not be treated as an add-on to AI use in schools, but as fundamental to how the technology is understood, adopted and applied, the Commission says. The guidelines highlight risks linked to bias, privacy, lack of transparency, over-reliance, academic integrity and the use of student data by commercial technology providers.

Rules under EU AI Act and the General Data Protection Regulation are also explained in the document. Some AI systems used for admissions, grading, behavioural monitoring, student progress tracking or detecting prohibited behaviour during tests may be classified as high-risk, while emotion recognition systems are prohibited in educational settings except for medical or safety-related reasons.

Key ethical considerations identified in the guidelines include human dignity, fairness, trustworthiness, academic integrity and justified choice. They also provide guiding questions for teachers and schools on human oversight, transparency, explainability, diversity, inclusion, privacy, safety and accountability.

Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu says the ethical use of AI must remain the guiding principle and that teachers are ‘uniquely placed to act as ethical guardians for their students’. The Commission frames the update as part of wider EU work on digital education, skills, AI literacy and the future of education systems in the age of AI.

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EU weighs social media age rules to protect children

The European Commission has signalled that it may propose EU-level rules on delaying children’s access to social media, as concerns grow over addictive platform design, harmful content and AI-enabled risks for minors.

In a keynote address at the European Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Children in Copenhagen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU must consider whether young people should be given more time before using social media. She said the question was not whether young people should have access to social media, but ‘whether social media should have access to young people’.

Von der Leyen said almost all the EU member states had called for an assessment of whether a minimum age is needed, while Denmark and nine other member states want to introduce one. She added that the Commission’s expert panel on child safety online is advising on the issue, and that a legal proposal could follow this summer, depending on its findings.

Von der Leyen linked the debate to wider concerns about platform business models. She argued that children’s attention was being treated as a commodity through addictive design, advertising, algorithmic recommendation systems and content that can harm mental health. She also pointed to risks linked to AI-generated sexualised images and child sexual abuse material.

The Commission President cited enforcement under the Digital Services Act, including actions involving TikTok, Meta and X, as well as investigations into platforms over whether children are being drawn into harmful content. She said the EU had created strong tools through the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act, and that platforms breaking the rules would be held accountable.

Von der Leyen said that any age restriction model would depend on reliable age verification. She said the EU had developed an open-source age verification app that would soon be available, including a rollout in Denmark by summer, and that the Union was working with member states to integrate it into digital wallets.

The speech also framed child online safety as a matter of platform responsibility, not just parental control. Von der Leyen said social media companies should be responsible for product safety in the same way other industries are, adding that ‘safety by design’ protections should be strengthened and expanded. She also pointed to the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act, which is expected to address addictive and harmful design practices.

Why does it matter?

The speech suggests that the EU child online safety policy may be moving from platform accountability after harm occurs towards more structural controls over access, design and age verification. A possible social media delay would mark a major shift in how the EU approaches children’s participation online, raising questions about privacy-preserving age checks, children’s rights, parental responsibility, platform duties and the balance between protection and digital inclusion.

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Texas lawsuit targets Netflix data practices

The Attorney General of Texas has filed a lawsuit against Netflix, alleging the company unlawfully collected user data without consent. The case claims the platform tracked extensive behavioural information from both adults and children while presenting itself as privacy-conscious.

According to the lawsuit, Netflix allegedly logged viewing habits, device usage and other interactions, turning user activity into monetised data. The lawsuit further claims that this data was shared with brokers and advertising technology firms to build detailed consumer profiles.

The Attorney General also argues that Netflix designed features to increase engagement, including autoplay, which allegedly encouraged prolonged viewing, particularly among younger users. These practices allegedly contradict the platform’s public messaging about being ad-free and family-friendly.

Texas’s complaint quoted a statement from Netflix co-founder and Chairman Reed Hastings, who allegedly said the company did not collect user data. He sought to distinguish Netflix’s approach from other major technology platforms with regard to data collection.

The Attorney General also claims that Netflix’s alleged surveillance violates the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The legal action seeks to halt the alleged data practices, introduce stricter controls, such as disabling autoplay for children, and impose penalties under consumer protection law, including civil fines of $ 10,000 per violation. The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of data practices by major technology platforms in the USA.

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Child safety concerns dominate Europe’s digital agenda

A growing majority of Europeans believe stronger online protections for children and young people should remain a top policy priority, according to new findings from the Special Eurobarometer on the Digital Decade.

The European Commission said 92% of Europeans consider further action to protect children and young people online a top priority, reflecting sustained concern over the impact of digital platforms on younger users.

Mental health risks linked to social media ranked among the biggest concerns, with 93% of respondents calling for stronger protections. Cyberbullying, online harassment, and better age-restriction mechanisms for inappropriate content were also highlighted by 92% of respondents.

Concerns over AI and online manipulation also remain high. The survey found that 39% of respondents cited privacy or data protection as a barrier to using AI, followed by accuracy or incorrect information at 36% and ethical issues or misuse of generative AI tools at 32%.

Around 87% of Europeans agreed that online manipulation, including disinformation, foreign interference, AI-generated content and deepfakes, poses a threat to democratic processes. Another 80% said AI development should be carefully regulated to ensure safety, even if oversight places constraints on developers.

The findings also show continuing concern over online platforms. Europeans reported being personally affected by fake news and disinformation, misuse of personal data and insufficient protections for minors, with concerns over fake news and child protection showing the sharpest increases since 2024.

Why does it matter?

The findings show that public concern over digital technologies in Europe is increasingly centred on safety, rights and accountability, particularly for children and young people. They also suggest that trust in platforms and AI systems will depend not only on innovation and access, but also on visible safeguards against manipulation, harmful content, privacy risks, and weak protections for minors.

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UK’s Ofcom prioritises child protection and AI moderation under Online Safety Act

The UK’s Ofcom has outlined its main online safety priorities for 2026–27, signalling tougher oversight of digital platforms under the UK’s Online Safety Act. The regulator said it will continue focusing heavily on child protection while expanding enforcement efforts against illegal hate speech, terrorism-related material, intimate image abuse, and AI-generated harms.

The regulator confirmed that more than 100,000 online services now fall within the scope of the legislation, creating major compliance and enforcement challenges. Ofcom said it will continue investigating platforms that fail to prevent harmful or illegal content, while also preparing new rules linked to additional UK legislation covering cyberflashing, non-consensual intimate imagery, and generative AI services.

Ofcom stated that major online platforms have already introduced broader age verification measures under regulatory pressure. Services including gaming, dating, social media, and pornography platforms have implemented stronger age checks and child safety protections.

Furthermore, the regulator said it will expand supervision of large technology companies and publish updated safety codes later this year, including guidance on AI-powered moderation systems.

According to Ofcom, future compliance work will increasingly focus on the effectiveness of platform moderation systems rather than relying solely on reactive content removal. The regulator also plans to strengthen protections for women and girls online through new technical standards designed to block the spread of non-consensual intimate images and sexual deepfakes at scale.

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