Children’s rights

EU calls for stronger action against cyber violence targeting girls

The Council of the European Union has adopted conclusions calling for stronger action to protect girls and young women from cyber violence, urging member states and the European Commission to reinforce prevention, enforcement, and victim support.

Findings from the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) show that girls and young women are disproportionately affected by cyber violence, including online harassment, cyberstalking, non-consensual sharing of intimate images and sexist hate speech. Interviews with teenagers across the EU also suggest many believe existing prevention efforts are inadequate.

The Council called for improved access to mental health services, legal assistance and educational programmes covering digital consent, online safety and gender-responsive digital literacy. It also recommended providing parents and educators with practical guidance and training to help identify and respond to online abuse.

The Council also stressed the need for stronger enforcement of existing legislation, including the Digital Services Act and AI Act, while urging online platforms to take greater responsibility for user safety. It further called for increased investment in law enforcement resources, cross-border cooperation and research into the causes and impact of cyber violence.

Why does it matter? 

The Council’s conclusions recognise cyber violence as both an online safety challenge and a barrier to gender equality and digital inclusion. By combining prevention, victim support, stronger enforcement and platform accountability, the EU is signalling that tackling online abuse requires coordinated action across governments, technology companies and civil society.

The recommendations also reinforce the EU’s broader digital governance agenda. Linking cyber violence to legislation such as the Digital Services Act and AI Act demonstrates how existing regulatory frameworks are increasingly being used to address online harms alongside technological innovation.

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EU launches funding for youth-centred social media platforms

The European Commission has launched a €1.48 million call for proposals to support the development and testing of safer, more inclusive social media platforms designed for young people.

The initiative aims to involve young people from diverse backgrounds in designing digital services that prioritise privacy, well-being, accessibility and user safety.

Selected projects will develop or enhance protocol-based social media platforms aligned with EU values, while giving users greater control over their data, content moderation and overall online experience.

The programme also supports market analysis, platform development, adoption strategies and recommendations for the future of social media in the EU.

Why does it matter?

The initiative reflects the EU’s growing emphasis on promoting digital platforms that prioritise user wellbeing, privacy and safety rather than engagement-driven business models. By supporting protocol-based alternatives, the Commission is seeking to encourage a more open and user-centric social media ecosystem.

It also highlights a broader policy shift towards involving young people directly in the design of digital services. Giving users greater control over their data, online experience and content moderation aligns with the EU’s wider objectives on digital rights, platform accountability and safer online environments.

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Indonesia reports 4.7 million under-16 accounts deactivated

TikTok and YouTube have deactivated about 4.7 million accounts belonging to children under 16 in Indonesia, according to the country’s Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid.

TikTok deactivated around 4.1 million accounts, while YouTube removed about 600,000. The move follows a regulation introduced in March requiring platforms deemed high risk to deactivate accounts held by users under 16.

The rule applies to services including TikTok, YouTube, X, Instagram and Roblox. Hafid said the government expects other platforms to follow the same approach.

Indonesia says the measures are intended to reduce children’s exposure to online harms, including cyberbullying, harmful content and internet addiction. Hafid said the government is not only trying to delay children’s access to social media, but also to change platform behaviour.

The ministry is reviewing self-assessment reports submitted by digital platforms and has said there is no room for compromise on compliance.

Indonesia’s approach reflects a wider global shift towards stricter rules on children’s access to social media and high-risk online services. Australia’s under-16 social media ban took effect in December 2025, while other governments are considering stronger restrictions and age-assurance requirements.

Why does it matter?

Indonesia’s enforcement shows how child online safety regulation is moving from policy debate to platform-level action. Deactivating millions of accounts creates immediate compliance pressure on major services and raises wider questions about age assurance, children’s rights, privacy and access to online spaces. The case also shows that governments are increasingly asking platforms not only to remove underage users, but to redesign how they manage risks for minors.

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Singapore launches Online Safety Commission for online harms

Singapore’s Online Safety Commission has begun operations, giving victims of online harms a dedicated channel to seek faster support and redress.

The commission was established to support the office of the Commissioner of Online Safety under the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025. Specified provisions on statutory torts under the Act also came into effect on 29 June 2026.

In its first phase, the commission will support victims affected by five categories of online harm: online harassment, including online sexual harassment, doxxing, online stalking, intimate image abuse and image-based child abuse.

Victims of online harassment and online stalking are generally expected to report harmful content to the relevant platform first. If the platform fails to respond promptly or provides an inadequate response within 24 hours, the platform may be reported to the commission. More serious harms, including doxxing and image-based abuse, can be reported directly.

Where there is reason to suspect that online harm has occurred, the Commissioner may issue directions to the person who posted the content, the administrator of the online space or the platform hosting it. These directions may require access to harmful content to be disabled or an account to be restricted. Non-compliance is a criminal offence.

Singapore is also introducing court-based remedies through statutory torts. Victims may bring civil claims against communicators, administrators, or platforms that fail to meet the duties set out in the law. For intimate image abuse and image-based child abuse, courts must award at least $5,000 for each image or recording if the claim succeeds.

The commission will also work with community partners that can provide counselling and practical support to victims and families.

Why does it matter?

Singapore’s Online Safety Commission provides victims of online harms with a dedicated institutional route for faster relief, rather than leaving them to rely solely on platform complaint systems or lengthy court processes. The model combines administrative directions, platform duties, community support and civil remedies. It is especially relevant for image-based abuse, doxxing and child safety, where rapid content restriction and victim support can be critical.

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Australia pushes more AI nudify services offline over child safety

Three more AI-powered ‘nudify’ services have withdrawn access for Australian users after enforcement action by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner under the country’s Age-Restricted Material codes.

The codes require AI services that allow users to access or generate age-restricted material, including sexually explicit material, to put appropriate age-assurance measures in place to prevent access by children under 18.

The latest action followed a formal Direction to Comply issued to one of the most widely used nudify services in Australia, requiring the provider to implement stronger protections within 14 days. Instead, the company disabled access for Australian users, while two associated services also withdrew.

eSafety said users in Australia will no longer be able to log in or use the service’s features, although landing pages may remain visible with content blurred.

The regulator said AI nudification tools pose serious risks because they can be used to create non-consensual sexually explicit deepfakes and child sexual exploitation material. It has also warned that such tools are increasingly being misused in school settings.

The action is part of eSafety’s broader enforcement focus on generative AI and nudify services now that Australia’s online safety codes and standards are in force. The regulator said seven of the most frequently accessed nudify services in Australia have either withdrawn from the market or introduced age-assurance measures following intervention.

Australia is also preparing further legislation to prohibit nudify services used to generate non-consensual sexually explicit material.

Why does it matter?

Australia’s approach shows how regulators can use age-assurance and online safety rules to restrict children’s access to high-risk generative AI tools before new AI-specific laws are fully in place. The case is also important because nudify services sit at the intersection of AI-generated abuse, child protection, image-based harm and platform accountability. By forcing services to either introduce safeguards or withdraw access, eSafety is creating a practical enforcement model that other jurisdictions may closely watch.

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UK’s Youth Justice Board highlights growing risks of online harms for children

The UK Youth Justice Board has published new evidence on how online harms affect children across England and Wales, warning that digital risks are increasingly linked to safeguarding, well-being and youth justice outcomes.

The Evidence and Insights Pack brings together research, data and practice examples to improve understanding of the risks children face online and how services can protect them more effectively.

The report says children face overlapping digital harms, including cyberbullying, sexual abuse, radicalisation, exploitation and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. It also warns that harmful content and image-based abuse are becoming increasingly normalised among children, disproportionately affecting girls.

The YJB says many children who engage in problematic online behaviour have complex needs or have experienced abuse themselves. Weak platform design and limited digital literacy among adults can increase children’s vulnerability and make safeguarding more difficult.

The report calls for responses that go beyond criminal justice. It identifies promising approaches, including safety-by-design and teen-by-default platform measures, early intervention, harm-reduction responses, digital media and gaming literacy, healthy relationships education and gender-sensitive programmes.

The YJB also highlights strength-based interventions that promote belonging, critical thinking and positive identity building for children. It says such approaches can help reduce harm while avoiding unnecessary criminalisation.

The publication comes as the UK implements the Online Safety Act and prepares to ban social media for under-16s by spring 2027. The YJB said protecting children will require coordinated action across education, health, policing, local government, housing and social care.

Why does it matter?

The report strengthens the case for treating online harms as a safeguarding and public policy issue, not only a matter for platforms or the police. It shows that children can be victims, perpetrators and vulnerable participants in the same digital environments, especially where abuse, exploitation, misogyny or harmful content are normalised. The YJB’s focus on prevention and early support is important because punitive responses can deepen children’s contact with the justice system without addressing the underlying risks.

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Child safety gaps in AI law flagged by Ireland’s Children’s Rights Alliance

The Children’s Rights Alliance has urged Irish authorities to strengthen protections for children against the risks posed by rapidly advancing AI technologies. The organisation argues that current regulatory efforts do not sufficiently protect young users from emerging digital risks.

The warning comes ahead of a parliamentary debate on the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Bill, which is intended to support the implementation of the EU AI Act in Ireland.

Government officials have presented the legislation as a step towards ensuring that AI is developed and deployed in an ethical, transparent and accountable manner while reinforcing Ireland’s position as a European digital regulatory hub.

However, the Children’s Rights Alliance has criticised the proposed framework, arguing that it does not explicitly recognise children as a vulnerable group requiring additional safeguards. The organisation also warned that inadequately regulated AI systems could contribute to harms, including deepfakes, online exploitation and the generation of child sexual abuse material.

Advocates are calling for policymakers to prioritise child safety over industry interests as Ireland prepares for its EU Council Presidency. The group is also hosting a discussion on AI accountability, emphasising the need for stronger protections in future regulation.

Why does it matter?

The debate highlights growing concerns that AI governance frameworks may not adequately address the specific risks faced by children. As generative AI tools become more accessible and capable, they can amplify existing online harms while creating new challenges related to deepfakes, manipulation, exploitation and exposure to harmful content.

The discussion also reflects a broader policy question about how vulnerable groups should be protected within emerging AI regulation. Whether children are explicitly recognised within legal frameworks could influence future requirements for risk assessments, safety measures, accountability mechanisms and platform responsibilities. As governments around the world implement AI governance regimes, child protection is increasingly becoming a key test of whether regulation can keep pace with technological change.

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UNESCO launches media literacy guide for families in the digital age

UNESCO has launched a global media literacy guide to help parents, caregivers, and families support children’s safe, informed and critical engagement with digital environments.

The guide, titled Growing Up in a Connected World: A Family Guide for the Digital Age, was launched at UNESCO Headquarters and online, attracting around 700 participants. It is available in English, French, and Spanish.

Developed by UNESCO in partnership with the French Media and Information Literacy Centre, CLEMI / Réseau Canopé, the guide is intended to equip families with media and information literacy skills to help guide children’s digital engagement.

UNESCO said the initiative comes amid growing global debate over whether younger users’ access to social media should be restricted or, in some cases, prohibited altogether. The organisation said such debates reflect broader concerns about safety, wellbeing and exposure to harmful content, but also underline the need to help young people navigate digital spaces safely, critically, and confidently.

The guide addresses both opportunities and risks linked to digital technologies. UNESCO said digital technologies can expand access to knowledge, participation and connection, but can also expose children to cyberbullying, harmful content, misinformation, and hate speech.

Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO, said, ‘UNESCO promotes robust, evidence-based Media and Information Literacy policies. There is progress: UNESCO’s 2025 global survey shows that 171 countries now have a MIL policy framework. However, implementation remains uneven, with fewer than half of countries integrating media and information literacy into school curricula. As a result, too many children still receive no structured support at all. And when schools cannot fill this gap, the responsibility falls on families.’

Samuel Vitel, Director General of Réseau Canopé, said, ‘It is often through dialogue with parents that children learn to question information, compare different perspectives, and develop their critical thinking skills. This is why parents need support, just as we already provide it to teachers and to all education stakeholders.’

UNESCO said families are increasingly at the centre of today’s information ecosystems as digital and political transformations reshape society. The organisation said regulatory approaches such as safety by design remain important, but are not sufficient on their own.

The guide is designed to place practical tools directly in the hands of parents and caregivers. UNESCO said the aim is to support informed decision-making, strengthen autonomy within family life, and help families guide digital practices at home.

Mariya Gabriel, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, said, ‘This new Guide serves as a common foundation of knowledge that every parent should be able to access. Its publication today is, therefore, not the end of our work, but the beginning.’

UNESCO also highlighted the growing influence of AI on information consumption and communication practices. Citing research from the Reuters Institute, it said 15% of young adults aged 18 to 24 use AI weekly to access news, compared with 3% of older users.

The organisation called on regulators, media organisations, experts, and other stakeholders to help empower parents, children, and young people to navigate information ecosystems critically and confidently.

UNESCO said media and information literacy remains one of its core global programmes. Through these initiatives, UNESCO and its partners aim to strengthen critical thinking skills and digital competencies in response to rapid technological change.

Why does it matter?

The guide matters because debates over children’s online safety are moving beyond restrictions and platform rules alone. UNESCO’s approach places media literacy at the centre of child protection, arguing that young people also need support to understand information, assess risks, and navigate digital spaces critically.

It also highlights the role of families in digital governance. Where schools have not yet integrated media and information literacy into curricula, parents and caregivers often become the first line of support against misinformation, harmful content, cyberbullying, and AI-shaped information environments.

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IWF challenges misconceptions about child abuse detection technologies

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has published a new analysis aimed at countering what it describes as persistent misconceptions about technologies used to detect child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online.

According to the organisation, public discussions increasingly focus on privacy and surveillance concerns while overlooking the role these technologies play in identifying and removing illegal content at scale.

The article argues that detection tools are not experimental technologies but rather adaptations of established cybersecurity methods already used throughout the digital ecosystem.

The IWF highlights hash matching technologies, which compare the mathematical signatures of files against databases of known illegal content, as a long-established and widely used approach to content detection.

The IWF stresses that these systems do not involve mass surveillance and do not require access to the contents of private communications.

The organisation also points to perceptual hashing technologies such as PhotoDNA, which can identify known abuse images even when files have been modified or resized. Similar approaches are commonly used in cybersecurity for malware detection, phishing prevention and file verification.

According to the IWF, the principles behind child protection technologies are therefore consistent with existing online security practices.

The article further argues that no single technology can effectively address the challenge of child sexual abuse material online. Instead, platforms require multiple layers of protection, including known-content detection, identification of previously unknown material, behavioural analysis, reporting mechanisms and human moderation.

The IWF warns that limiting detection capabilities would reduce the ability of platforms and law enforcement authorities to identify abuse and protect victims.

Why does it matter?

The publication contributes to an increasingly important policy debate over how to balance privacy, encryption and child protection online. As governments consider new online safety laws and content moderation requirements, questions about whether detection technologies constitute surveillance have become central to discussions involving regulators, technology companies and civil society groups.

The IWF’s intervention also highlights a broader governance challenge. While privacy advocates warn against measures that could weaken encryption or expand monitoring, child protection organisations argue that effective detection capabilities remain essential for identifying abuse, removing illegal content and supporting law enforcement investigations. The outcome of these debates could shape future approaches to online safety, platform accountability and digital rights worldwide.

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OECD examines young people’s social media use

The OECD has warned that young people are growing up in a social media age that offers opportunities for creativity and connection, but also creates risks for learning, well-being and online safety.

In a new Digital Economy Paper, ‘Growing up in the social media age’, the OECD reviews research on young people’s social media use and analyses data from the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment. The paper focuses mainly on 15-year-olds and examines links between social media use, academic outcomes, creative thinking and policy responses.

The OECD says social media is almost universal among 15-year-olds. Around 95% report browsing social media daily, while 88% report communicating or sharing digital content on social platforms. On average, 15-year-olds across the OECD spend almost 35 hours a week on social media.

The paper says the evidence on social media and well-being remains complex. Excessive use is often associated with negative outcomes, but correlations do not prove that social media directly causes lower academic performance, poorer mental health or reduced well-being.

The OECD finds that moderate social media use is associated with stronger academic performance than either no use or heavy use. Mathematics performance is highest among students who use social media moderately, while performance tends to decline as time spent on social media exceeds 3 hours a day.

Creative thinking follows a similar pattern. Scores peak at moderate levels of browsing social media, usually one to three hours per day, but decline when students spend more than one hour communicating or sharing digital content.

The paper also notes that school mobile phone bans are becoming more common, but implementation remains difficult. Across the OECD, 29% of 15-year-olds in schools that ban mobile phones still reported using their phone at school several times a day.

The OECD says governments need balanced policies that help young people benefit from social media while protecting them from risks, and that safeguards should also respect freedom of expression, privacy, innovation and fair competition.

Why does it matter?

The OECD paper is useful because it pushes the debate beyond a simple ‘ban or allow’ framing. It shows that young people’s social media use is widespread and often excessive, yet moderate use can be associated with positive outcomes. For policymakers, the challenge is to design rules on school phone use, age limits and platform obligations that protect children without cutting them off from digital participation, creativity and social connection.

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