Children’s rights

Teen victim turns deepfake experience into education

A US teenager targeted by explicit deepfake images has helped create a new training course. The programme aims to support students, parents and school staff facing online abuse.

The course explains how AI tools are used to create sexualised fake images. It also outlines legal rights, reporting steps and available victim support resources.

Research shows deepfake abuse is spreading among teenagers, despite stronger laws. One in eight US teens know someone targeted by non-consensual fake images.

Developers say education remains critical as AI tools become easier to access. Schools are encouraged to adopt training to protect students and prevent harm.

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UK considers regulatory action after Grok’s deepfake images on X

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is consulting Canada and Australia on a coordinated response to concerns surrounding social media platform X, after its AI assistant Grok was used to generate sexualised deepfake images of women and children.

The discussions focus on shared regulatory approaches rather than immediate bans.

X acknowledged weaknesses in its AI safeguards and limited image generation to paying users. Lawmakers in several countries have stated that further regulatory scrutiny may be required, while Canada has clarified that no prohibition is currently under consideration, despite concerns over platform responsibility.

In the UK, media regulator Ofcom is examining potential breaches of online safety obligations. Technology secretary Liz Kendall confirmed that enforcement mechanisms remain available if legal requirements are not met.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also raised broader concerns about social responsibility in the use of generative AI.

X owner Elon Musk rejected accusations of non-compliance, describing potential restrictions as censorship and suppression of free speech.

European authorities requested the preservation of internal records for possible investigations, while Indonesia and Malaysia have already blocked access to the platform.

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Indonesia and Malaysia restrict access to Grok AI over content safeguards

Malaysia and Indonesia have restricted access to Grok, the AI chatbot available through the X platform, following concerns about its image generation capabilities.

Authorities said the tool had been used to create manipulated images depicting real individuals in sexually explicit contexts.

Regulatory bodies in Malaysia and Indonesia stated that the decision was based on the absence of sufficient safeguards to prevent misuse.

Requests for additional risk mitigation measures were communicated to the platform operator, with access expected to remain limited until further protections are introduced.

The move has drawn attention from regulators in other regions, where online safety frameworks allow intervention when digital services fail to address harmful content. Discussions have focused on platform responsibility, content moderation standards, and compliance with existing legal obligations.

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Instagram responds to claims of user data exposure

Reports published by cybersecurity researchers indicated that data linked to approximately 17.5 million Instagram accounts has been offered for sale on underground forums.

The dataset reportedly includes usernames, contact details and physical address information, raising broader concerns around digital privacy and data aggregation.

A few hours later, Instagram responded by stating that no breach of internal systems occurred. According to the company, some users received password reset emails after an external party abused a feature that has since been addressed.

The platform said affected accounts remained secure, with no unauthorised access recorded.

Security analysts have noted that risks arise when online identifiers are combined with external datasets, rather than originating from a single platform.

Such aggregation can increase exposure to targeted fraud, impersonation and harassment, reinforcing the importance of cautious digital security practices across social media ecosystems.

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BBC launches media literacy series for teenagers

BBC Children’s and Education has launched Solve The Story, a new series tackling online misinformation among teenagers. The six-part programme is designed for classroom use across UK schools.

The British series follows research showing teachers lack resources to teach critical thinking effectively. Surveys found teenagers struggle with online content volume, while one in three teachers find media literacy difficult to deliver.

Solve The Story uses mystery-style storytelling to help pupils question sources, spot deepfakes and challenge viral claims. Each episode includes practical classroom guides supporting teachers and lesson planning.

BBC figures say two thirds of teenagers worry about fake news causing confusion and stress. Educators argue AI-driven misinformation makes structured media literacy support increasingly urgent.

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EU instructs X to keep all Grok chatbot records

The European Commission has ordered X to retain all internal documents and data on its AI chatbot Grok until the end of 2026. The order falls under the Digital Services Act after concerns Grok’s ‘spicy’ mode enabled sexualised deepfakes of minors.

The move continues EU oversight, recalling a January 2025 order to preserve X’s recommender system documents amid claims it amplified far-right content during German elections. EU regulators emphasised that platforms must manage the content generated by their AI responsibly.

Earlier this week, X submitted responses to the Commission regarding Grok’s outputs following concerns over Holocaust denial content. While the deepfake scandal has prompted calls for further action, the Commission has not launched a formal investigation into Grok.

Regulators reiterated that it remains X’s responsibility to ensure the chatbot’s outputs meet European standards, and retention of all internal records is crucial for ongoing monitoring and accountability.

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AI earbuds go beyond music

Startups are transforming everyday earbuds into AI assistants that can record meetings, translate languages, or offer cross-platform support, expanding the devices’ role beyond music. Major tech firms, such as Apple and Samsung, laid the groundwork with noise-cancelling and voice features.

At CES, companies such as OSO, Viaim and Timekettle demonstrated professional and educational use cases. Schools utilise translation earbuds to assist non-English-speaking students in following lessons, while professionals can retrieve meeting highlights on demand.

Experts note that earbuds are more accessible than smart glasses, but remain limited by voice-only interaction and reliance on smartphones. Neural earbuds with sensitive sensors could enable hands-free control or internet access for individuals with disabilities.

Although most headphones today still focus on listening, AI earbuds hint at a shift in personal technology, blending convenience, intelligence and accessibility into devices people already wear every day.

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Grok incident renews scrutiny of generative AI safety

Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot has triggered international backlash after generating sexualised images of women and girls in response to user prompts on X, raising renewed concerns over AI safeguards and platform accountability.

The images, some depicting minors in minimal clothing, circulated publicly before being removed. Grok later acknowledged failures in its own safeguards, stating that child sexual abuse material is illegal and prohibited, while xAI initially offered no public explanation.

European officials reacted swiftly. French ministers referred the matter to prosecutors, calling the output illegal, while campaigners in the UK argued the incident exposed delays in enforcing laws against AI-generated intimate images.

In contrast, US lawmakers largely stayed silent despite xAI holding a major defence contract. Musk did not directly address the controversy; instead, posting unrelated content as criticism mounted on the platform.

The episode has intensified debate over whether current AI governance frameworks are sufficient to prevent harm, particularly when generative systems operate at scale with limited real-time oversight.

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Roblox rolls out facial age checks for chat

The online gaming platform, Roblox, has begun a global rollout requiring facial age checks before users can access chat features, expanding a system first tested in selected regions late last year.

The measure applies wherever chat is available and aims to create age-appropriate communication environments across the platform.

Instead of relying on self-declared ages, Roblox uses facial age estimation to group users and restrict interactions, limiting contact between adults and children under 16. Younger users need parental consent to chat, while verified users aged 13 and over can connect more freely through Trusted Connections.

The company says privacy safeguards remain central, with images deleted immediately after secure processing and no image sharing allowed in chat. Appeals, ID verification and parental controls support accuracy, while ongoing behavioural checks may trigger repeat age verification if discrepancies appear.

Roblox plans to extend age checks beyond chat later in 2026, including creator tools and community features, as part of a broader push to strengthen online safety and rebuild trust in youth-focused digital platforms.

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California launches DROP tool to erase data broker records

Residents in California now have a simpler way to force data brokers to delete their personal information.

The state has launched the Delete Requests and Opt-Out Platform, known as DROP, allowing residents to submit one verified deletion request that applies to every registered data broker instead of contacting each company individually.

A system that follows the Delete Act, passed in 2023, and is intended to create a single control point for consumer data removal.

Once a resident submits a request, the data brokers must begin processing it from August 2026 and will have 90 days to act. If data is not deleted, residents may need to provide extra identifying details.

First-party data collected directly by companies can still be retained, while data from public records, such as voter rolls, remains exempt. Highly sensitive data may fall under separate legal protections such as HIPAA.

The California Privacy Protection Agency argues that broader data deletion could reduce identity theft, AI-driven impersonation, fraud risk and unwanted marketing contact.

Penalties for non-compliance include daily fines for brokers who fail to register or ignore deletion orders. The state hopes the tool will make data rights meaningful instead of purely theoretical.

A launch that comes as regulators worldwide examine how personal data is used, traded and exploited.

California is positioning itself as a leader in consumer privacy enforcement, while questions continue about how effectively DROP will operate when the deadline arrives in 2026.

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