Children’s rights

UK sets 48-hour deadline for removing intimate images

The UK government plans to require technology platforms to remove intimate images shared without consent within forty-eight hours instead of allowing such content to remain online for days.

Through an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, firms that fail to comply could face fines amounting to ten percent of their global revenue or risk having their services blocked in the UK.

A move that reflects ministers’ commitment to treat intimate image abuse with the same seriousness as child sexual abuse material and extremist content.

The action follows mounting concern after non-consensual sexual deepfakes produced by Grok circulated widely, prompting investigations by Ofcom and political pressure on platforms owned by Elon Musk.

The government now intends victims to report an image once instead of repeating the process across multiple services. Once flagged, the content should disappear across all platforms and be blocked automatically on future uploads through hash-matching or similar detection tools.

Ministers also aim to address content hosted outside the reach of the Online Safety Act by issuing guidance requiring internet providers to block access to sites that refuse to comply.

Keir Starmer, Liz Kendall and Alex Davies-Jones emphasised that no woman should be forced to pursue platform after platform to secure removal and that the online environment must offer safety and respect.

The package of reforms forms part of a broader pledge to halve violence against women and girls during the next decade.

Alongside tackling intimate image abuse, the government is legislating against nudification tools and ensuring AI chatbots fall within regulatory scope, using this agenda to reshape online safety instead of relying on voluntary compliance from large technology firms.

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Summit in India hears call for safe AI

The UN Secretary General has warned that AI must augment human potential rather than replace it, speaking at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. Addressing leaders at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, he urged investment in workers so that technology strengthens, rather than displaces, human capacity.

In New Delhi, he cautioned that AI could deepen inequality, amplify bias and fuel harm if left unchecked. He called for stronger safeguards to protect people from exploitation and insisted that no child should be exposed to unregulated AI systems.

Environmental concerns also featured prominently in New Delhi, with Guterres highlighting rising energy and water demands from data centres. He urged a shift to clean power and warned against transferring environmental costs to vulnerable communities.

The UN chief proposed a $3 billion Global Fund on AI to build skills, data access and affordable computing worldwide. In New Delhi, he argued that broader access is essential to prevent countries from being excluded from the AI age and to ensure AI supports sustainable development goals.

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UNESCO expands multilingual learning through LearnBig

The LearnBig digital application is expanding access to learning, with UNESCO supporting educational materials in national and local languages instead of relying solely on dominant teaching languages.

A project that aligns with International Mother Language Day and reflects long-standing research showing that children learn more effectively when taught in languages they understand from an early age.

The programme supports communities along the Thailand–Myanmar border, where children gain literacy and numeracy skills in both Thai and their mother tongues.

Young learners can make more substantial academic progress with this approach, which allows them to remain connected to their cultural identity rather than being pushed into unfamiliar linguistic environments. More than 2,000 digital books are available in languages such as Karen, Myanmar, and Pattani Malay.

LearnBig was developed within the ‘Mobile Literacy for Out-of-School Children’ programme, backed by partners including Microsoft, True Corporation, POSCO 1% Foundation and the Ministry of Education of Thailand.

An initiative by UNESCO that has reached more than 526,000 learners, with young people in Yala using tablets to access digital books, while learners in Mae Hong Son study through content presented in their local languages.

The project illustrates the potential of digital innovation to bridge linguistic, social, and geographic divides.

By supporting children who often fall outside formal education systems, LearnBig demonstrates how technology can help build a more inclusive and equitable learning environment rather than reinforcing existing barriers.

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Macron calls Europe safe space for AI

French President Emmanuel Macron told the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi that Europe would remain a safe space for AI innovation and investment. Speaking in New Delhi, he said the European Union would continue shaping global AI rules alongside partners such as India.

Macron pointed to the EU AI Act, adopted in 2024, as evidence that Europe can regulate emerging technologies and AI while encouraging growth. In New Delhi, he claims that oversight would not stifle innovation but ensure responsible development, but not much evidence to back it up.

The French leader said that France is doubling the number of AI scientists and engineers it trains, with startups creating tens of thousands of jobs. He added in New Delhi that Europe aims to combine competitiveness with strong guardrails.

Macron also highlighted child protection as a G7 priority, arguing in New Delhi that children must be shielded from AI driven digital abuse. Europe, he said, intends to protect society while remaining open to investment and cooperation with India.

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EU turns to AI tools to strengthen defences against disinformation

Institutions, researchers, and media organisations in the EU are intensifying efforts to use AI to counter disinformation, even as concerns grow about the wider impact on media freedom and public trust.

Confidence in journalism has fallen sharply across the EU, a trend made more severe by the rapid deployment of AI systems that reshape how information circulates online.

Brussels is attempting to respond with a mix of regulation and strategic investment. The EU’s AI Act is entering its implementation phase, supported by the AI Continent Action Plan and the Apply AI Strategy, both introduced in 2025 to improve competitiveness while protecting rights.

Yet manipulation campaigns continue to spread false narratives across platforms in multiple languages, placing pressure on journalists, fact-checkers and regulators to act with greater speed and precision.

Within such an environment, AI4TRUST has emerged as a prominent Horizon Europe initiative. The consortium is developing an integrated platform that detects disinformation signals, verifies content, and maps information flows for professionals who need real-time insight.

Partners stress the need for tools that strengthen human judgment instead of replacing it, particularly as synthetic media accelerates and shared realities become more fragile.

Experts speaking in Brussels warned that traditional fact-checking cannot absorb the scale of modern manipulation. They highlighted the geopolitical risks created by automated messaging and deepfakes, and argued for transparent, accountable systems tailored to user needs.

European officials emphasised that multiple tools will be required, supported by collaboration across institutions and sustained regulatory frameworks that defend democratic resilience.

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India unveils MANAV Vision as new global pathway for ethical AI

Narendra Modi presented the new MANAV Vision during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, setting out a human-centred direction for AI.

He described the framework as rooted in moral guidance, transparent oversight, national control of data, inclusive access and lawful verification. He argued that the approach is intended to guide global AI governance for the benefit of humanity.

The Prime Minister of India warned that rapid technological change requires stronger safeguards and drew attention to the need to protect children. He also said societies are entering a period where people and intelligent systems co-create and evolve together instead of functioning in separate spheres.

He pointed to India’s confidence in its talent and policy clarity as evidence of a growing AI future.

Modi announced that three domestic companies introduced new AI models and applications during the summit, saying the launches reflect the energy and capability of India’s young innovators.

He invited technology leaders from around the world to collaborate by designing and developing in India instead of limiting innovation to established hubs elsewhere.

The summit brought together policymakers, academics, technologists and civil society representatives to encourage cooperation on the societal impact of artificial intelligence.

As the first global AI summit held in the Global South, the gathering aligned with India’s national commitment to welfare for all and the wider aspiration to advance AI for humanity.

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Proposed GDPR changes target AI development

The European Commission has proposed changes to the GDPR and the EU AI Act as part of its Digital Omnibus Package, seeking to clarify how personal data may be processed for AI development and operation across the EU.

A new provision would recognise AI development and operation as a potential legitimate interest under the GDPR, subject to necessity and a balancing test. Controllers in the EU would still need to demonstrate safeguards, including data minimisation, transparency and an unconditional right to object.

The package also introduces a proposed legal ground for processing sensitive data in AI systems where removal is not feasible without disproportionate effort. Claims that strict conditions would apply, requiring technical protections and documentation throughout the lifecycle of AI models in the EU.

Further amendments would permit biometric data processing for identity verification under defined conditions and expand the rules allowing sensitive data to be used for bias detection beyond high-risk AI systems.

Overall, the proposals aim to provide greater legal certainty without overturning existing data protection principles. The EU lawmakers and supervisory authorities continue to debate the proposals before any final adoption.

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Rwanda and Anthropic sign AI partnership

Anthropic and the Government of Rwanda have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding to expand AI deployment across health, education and public sector services in Rwanda. The agreement marks Anthropic’s first multi-sector government partnership in Africa.

In Rwanda’s health system, Anthropic will support national priorities, including efforts to eliminate cervical cancer and reduce malaria and maternal mortality. Rwanda’s Ministry of Health will work with Anthropic to integrate AI tools aligned with national objectives.

Public sector developer teams in Rwanda will gain access to Claude and Claude Code, alongside training, API credits and technical support. The partnership also formalises an education programme launched in 2025 that provided 2,000 Claude Pro licences to educators in Rwanda.

Officials in Rwanda have said the collaboration focuses on capacity development, responsible deployment and local autonomy. Anthropic stated that investment in skills and infrastructure in Rwanda aims to enable safe and independent use of AI by teachers, health workers and public servants.

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Social media ban for children gains momentum in Germany

Germany’s coalition government is weighing new restrictions on children’s access to social media as both governing parties draft proposals to tighten online safeguards. The debate comes amid broader economic pressures, with industry reporting significant job losses last year.

The conservative bloc and the centre-left Social Democrats are examining measures that could curb or block social media access for minors. Proposals under discussion include age-based restrictions and stronger platform accountability.

The Social Democrats in Germany have proposed banning access for children under 14 and introducing dedicated youth versions of platforms for users aged 14 to 16. Supporters argue that clearer age thresholds could reduce exposure to harmful content and addictive design features.

The discussions align with a growing European trend toward stricter digital child protection rules. Several governments are exploring tougher age verification and content moderation standards, reflecting mounting concerns over online safety and mental health.

The policy debate unfolded as German industry reported cutting 124,100 jobs in 2025 amid ongoing economic headwinds. Lawmakers face the dual challenge of safeguarding younger users while navigating wider structural pressures affecting Europe’s largest economy.

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Government ramps up online safety for children in the UK

The UK government has announced new measures to protect children online, giving parents clearer guidance and support. PM Keir Starmer said no platform will get a free pass, with illegal AI chatbot content targeted immediately.

New powers, to be introduced through upcoming legislation, will allow swift action following a consultation on children’s digital well-being.

Proposed measures include enforcing social media age limits, restricting harmful features like infinite scrolling, and strengthening safeguards against sharing non-consensual intimate images.

Ministers are already consulting parents, children, and civil society groups. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology launched ‘You Won’t Know until You Ask’ to advise on safety settings, talking to children, and handling harmful content.

Charities such as NSPCC and the Molly Rose Foundation welcomed the announcement, emphasising swift action on age limits, addictive design, and AI content regulation. Children’s feedback will help shape the new rules, aiming to make the UK a global leader in online safety.

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