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European Commission publishes AI Act guidance on transparency labels

The European Commission has published guidance explaining how providers and deployers should comply with new AI transparency requirements under the EU AI Act, ahead of obligations taking effect on 2 August 2026.

The rules are intended to help people recognise when they are interacting with an AI system or viewing content generated or manipulated by AI. According to the European Commission, greater transparency should reduce the risks of deception and manipulation.

Providers must ensure that interactive AI systems, including chatbots, inform users that they are communicating with AI. They must also attach machine-readable markings to synthetic or AI-manipulated content so it can be detected.

Deployers face separate obligations. They must disclose the use of deepfakes, emotion-recognition systems and biometric categorisation tools, and identify AI-generated content on matters of public interest when it is published without human review or editorial oversight.

The guidance also clarifies key concepts, including interactive AI systems, synthetic content, deepfakes and AI-generated public-interest text. It further explains exemptions for routine editing tools such as spelling and grammar correction.

Organisations can demonstrate compliance by following the voluntary Code of Practice on Transparency of AI-generated Content, which has been recognised by the Commission and the European AI Board as a practical means of meeting the AI Act’s requirements.

Most transparency obligations and enforcement powers will apply from 2 August, while AI systems already on the market must meet marking and detection requirements by 2 December 2026.

The Commission is also providing an AI Act Service Desk and additional guidance to help organisations understand and implement the new requirements.

Why does it matter?

The guidance marks the beginning of one of the AI Act’s first operational transparency obligations. By requiring AI-generated and manipulated content to be identified, the EU aims to reduce the risks posed by deepfakes, synthetic media and undisclosed AI interactions while helping users make more informed decisions about the content they encounter.

The guidance also provides organisations with greater legal certainty ahead of enforcement. Clear definitions, recognised compliance mechanisms and practical implementation support should make it easier for providers and deployers to meet the AI Act’s transparency requirements consistently across the EU.

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Spain reports more than 40,000 online hate posts in June

Spain’s Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE) detected more than 40,800 pieces of online hate speech and discriminatory content in June 2026, according to its latest social media monitoring bulletin.

Using data collected through Spain’s FARO monitoring system, the analysis found that public insecurity remained the main driver of discriminatory narratives, accounting for 69% of detected content. Sport accounted for a further 16%, with racist and Islamophobic abuse increasing during the FIFA World Cup, including attacks targeting Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal.

The report found that 89% of monitored messages contained explicitly aggressive language, while nearly one-third included images, videos, memes or coded language that can facilitate the spread of hateful content and make automated detection more difficult.

OBERAXE also recorded a significant rise in dehumanising narratives, which represented 48% of monitored content, alongside messages portraying targeted groups as threats or promoting expulsions and violence.

People of North African origin remained the primary target of online hate speech, representing 88% of analysed content, followed by Muslims and people of African descent.

The report also highlighted persistent false or misleading narratives linking migrants to crime, public disorder and insecurity, with debates over immigration policy and migrant regularisation further fuelling discriminatory online discussions.

Platform responses varied considerably. Overall, 61% of reported content was removed, slightly below the previous month’s rate. TikTok recorded the highest removal rate (98%), followed by X (93%), Facebook (62%), Instagram (32%) and YouTube (8%).

OBERAXE also found that content reported through trusted flagger mechanisms was significantly more likely to be removed than content reported by individual users, highlighting the value of institutional cooperation between public authorities and online platforms.

Why does it matter?

The findings illustrate the continuing scale of online hate speech targeting migrants and racialised communities in Spain, while showing how offline events such as major sporting competitions and migration debates can amplify discriminatory narratives online.

The report also underlines the growing importance of trusted flagger mechanisms, platform accountability and AI-assisted monitoring in implementing online safety policies. The wide variation in platform removal rates suggests that moderation practices remain inconsistent, reinforcing the role of regulatory oversight and cooperation between public authorities and digital platforms.

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European Commission fines AliExpress €550 million for DSA breaches

The European Commission has fined AliExpress €550 million for breaching the Digital Services Act (DSA), concluding that the platform failed to adequately assess and mitigate the systemic risks associated with illegal, unsafe and counterfeit products sold through its marketplace.

The Commission found that AliExpress underestimated the risks posed by its services and failed to implement effective safeguards to protect consumers across the EU.

According to the Commission, AliExpress failed to adequately assess the effectiveness of its content moderation systems or allocate sufficient human resources to review illegal products.

Investigators also found that the platform’s recommender and advertising systems continued promoting illegal products before they were removed, while its risk assessments relied on insufficient quantitative evidence to measure the effectiveness of its mitigation measures.

The investigation also identified significant weaknesses in AliExpress’ risk mitigation measures. Counterfeit goods, unsafe toys and dangerous cosmetics remained available for extended periods, while traders repeatedly bypassed compliance checks through product miscategorisation.

The Commission further concluded that the platform failed to consistently sanction sellers of illegal products and that its brand authorisation system did not effectively prevent counterfeit listings.

AliExpress must submit an action plan by 20 October 2026 explaining how it will comply with the DSA.

The European Board for Digital Services will review the proposal before the Commission adopts a final implementation decision. Continued non-compliance could result in periodic penalty payments as the Commission monitors implementation.

Why does it matter?

The decision is one of the most significant enforcement actions taken under the Digital Services Act to date and demonstrates the European Commission’s willingness to impose substantial financial penalties on platforms that fail to manage systemic risks. It reinforces the DSA’s preventive approach, which requires very large online platforms to identify, assess and mitigate risks before harm occurs rather than relying solely on the removal of illegal content after the fact.

The case also signals that the Commission expects platforms to back their risk assessments with robust evidence, effective moderation systems and adequate human oversight. Future DSA enforcement is therefore likely to focus not only on the presence of illegal content but also on whether companies can demonstrate that their governance and risk management processes are working effectively.

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Victoria proposes tougher child safety laws for social media and AI

Victoria’s Labor government plans to introduce child safety laws that would make it easier for families to bring legal claims against social media and AI companies accused of harming children.

The proposed reforms would remove the requirement for claims brought on behalf of minors to demonstrate permanent psychiatric impairment of at least 10% before proceedings against social media or AI providers can begin.

The government argues that addictive platform features can damage children’s mental health and that the current legal threshold creates an unnecessary barrier for affected families seeking compensation.

The reforms would also give the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) new powers to issue ‘demasking orders’, requiring social media companies to reveal the identities of anonymous users accused of online vilification.

Premier Jacinta Allan said families should be able to hold technology companies accountable when their platforms harm children and that anonymity should not shield users responsible for hateful conduct.

The government will also consider whether the lower legal threshold should apply to claims involving adults before finalising the legislation. The reforms will be developed through targeted consultations with VCAT, the courts and other stakeholders before being introduced to parliament.

Why does it matter?

The proposed reforms reflect a growing international trend towards holding technology companies more accountable for the real-world impacts of platform design, particularly where children are concerned. Lowering the threshold for legal claims could make it easier for families to seek redress while increasing pressure on platforms to address features that may contribute to harm.

The introduction of ‘demasking orders’ also illustrates how online safety policy is expanding beyond content moderation to include stronger legal mechanisms for identifying anonymous users and enforcing accountability. If adopted, the legislation could influence similar debates in other jurisdictions considering tougher platform liability rules.

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Meta adds suicide prevention safeguards to AI chats for teens

Meta has announced new safety measures for teenagers using Meta AI, including parental alerts when supervised teens show signs of suicide or self-harm during conversations with the chatbot. The company said alerts will be sent only after manual review and will include guidance to help parents support their child.

The company is also developing a system to notify emergency services when AI conversations indicate someone may face an imminent risk of suicide. The approach builds on the company’s existing practice of referring serious suicide risks identified on Facebook and Instagram to emergency responders.

Meta said it worked with more than 75 mental health clinicians to improve how its AI responds when teenagers discuss suicide or self-harm. The updated responses are intended to acknowledge users’ feelings while directing them towards appropriate offline support and crisis services.

The company is also extending its stricter ‘Limited Content’ setting to Meta AI chats, restricting a wider range of sensitive conversations for supervised teens. The parental alerts are now available in the US, UK, Australia and Canada, with global rollout planned by the end of the year.

Why does it matter?

The measures illustrate how AI safety is expanding beyond preventing harmful content to managing situations in which users may face immediate risks to their wellbeing. As conversational AI becomes more widely used by teenagers, developers are increasingly expected to incorporate safeguards, human oversight and access to professional support into their systems.

The announcement also highlights the growing convergence between AI governance and child online safety. Features such as parental notifications, clinically informed responses and emergency escalation suggest that AI assistants are beginning to adopt safety frameworks previously developed for social media platforms, raising new questions about privacy, duty of care and appropriate intervention.

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Ofcom says age checks expand but more action needed

Ofcom has published its 2026 Use of Age Assurance Report, finding that age-assurance measures have expanded rapidly over the past year while calling for further action to strengthen online protections for children under the UK’s Online Safety Act.

The report examines the first six months after child protection duties took effect in July 2025, covering pornography, social media and online dating services. Ofcom said highly effective age assurance can significantly improve child safety, although no single method can completely prevent circumvention.

Ofcom said social media platforms have not consistently enforced their existing minimum age requirements and urged services relying on age inference to combine it with other highly effective methods. It also called on pornography services that have yet to introduce age checks to do so without delay, stressing that regulated services remain responsible for ensuring their age-assurance measures are effective.

The regulator also confirmed it will provide Parliament with an assessment by the end of October on how age checks for users over 16 could operate in practice, ahead of proposed social media restrictions expected in 2027.

Why does it matter?

The report provides one of the first comprehensive assessments of how age-assurance requirements are being implemented under the Online Safety Act. Its findings are likely to shape future enforcement priorities and inform policy discussions on additional age-based restrictions for social media services.

The report also suggests that age assurance is evolving into a broader ecosystem responsibility rather than a platform-only obligation. By highlighting the roles of search engines, app stores and device manufacturers alongside online services, Ofcom signals that effective child protection will increasingly depend on coordinated action across the digital ecosystem.

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Ofcom investigates TikTok age assurance under UK’s Online Safety Act

Ofcom has opened an investigation into TikTok age assurance and the platform’s compliance with child safety duties under the UK’s Online Safety Act.

The investigation will examine whether TikTok uses proportionate systems and processes to prevent children from encountering content classified as harmful under the Act.

Since 25 July 2025, user-to-user services likely to be accessed by children have been required to prevent minors from encountering primary priority content harmful to children. Platforms must also protect different age groups from other forms of harmful material.

Where primary priority content is available, providers must use age-assurance systems that are highly effective at determining whether a user is a child, unless the content is prohibited for all users under the platform’s terms of service.

Ofcom said the investigation follows its review of measures adopted by major platforms and findings from its report on children’s online experiences, which raised concerns about minors encountering harmful content on TikTok.

A separate report on age assurance also suggested that age-estimation models, including those used by TikTok, may have failed to identify a significant proportion of children correctly.

The regulator will assess whether TikTok’s age-assurance measures meet the legal standard of being ‘highly effective’ and whether any shortcomings may have left children exposed to harmful content.

The regulator stressed that opening the investigation does not mean it has concluded that TikTok breached the law. Its first step will be to use formal information-gathering powers to collect and analyse evidence.

TikTok may choose to follow Ofcom’s Protection of Children Codes of Practice or adopt alternative measures. However, any alternative approach must still satisfy the platform’s legal obligations under the Online Safety Act.

If Ofcom identifies failures involving TikTok age assurance or other child protection systems, it could impose a fine of up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater.

In the most serious cases, Ofcom can seek a court order requiring third parties, including payment providers, advertisers and internet service providers, to withdraw services from or block access to a platform in UK.

The investigation is expected to take at least three months, with Ofcom planning to publish an update in October 2026.

Why does it matter?

The investigation will provide an early test of how rigorously Ofcom enforces the Online Safety Act’s child protection duties against major platforms. Its outcome could help define what constitutes ‘highly effective’ age assurance and shape industry expectations for protecting minors online.

The case also reflects a broader shift towards holding platforms accountable not only for removing harmful content but for demonstrating that their safety systems work in practice. Any enforcement action is likely to influence how other online services approach age verification and child safety compliance in the UK.

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Three in four young Europeans have basic digital skills, Eurostat says

Nearly three out of four young people in the EU had at least basic digital skills in 2025, according to new Eurostat data released to mark World Youth Skills Day. However, the figures also reveal persistent disparities between Member States.

Denmark recorded the highest share of digitally skilled young people at 92.1%, followed by Czechia (91.7%) and Malta (91.5%). Bulgaria (52.8%) and Romania (53.3%) ranked lowest, remaining the only EU countries where fewer than six in ten young people possessed at least basic digital skills.

The data also show that young women outperformed young men across the EU. In 2025, 75.9% of women aged 16 to 24 had at least basic digital skills, compared with 73.3% of men.

Women recorded higher levels of digital skills in 22 EU member states, with the largest gaps in Cyprus, Slovenia and Austria. Men performed better in only five countries, with the widest differences in Malta and Romania.

Eurostat’s Digital Skills Indicator measures competencies across five areas: information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, safety, and problem solving. Individuals are classified as having at least basic digital skills if they demonstrate at least one relevant activity in each area.

Why does it matter?

Digital skills are increasingly essential for education, employment and participation in the digital economy. While the latest figures show that most young Europeans possess at least basic digital competencies, the wide differences between Member States suggest that access to digital education and training remains uneven across the EU.

Closing these gaps will be important for achieving the EU’s Digital Decade objectives, which depend on a digitally skilled workforce capable of supporting economic competitiveness, innovation and the wider adoption of emerging technologies such as AI.

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UK plans default overnight social media restrictions for teenagers

The UK government plans to introduce default overnight social media restrictions for 16- and 17-year-olds, alongside measures to limit features designed to encourage prolonged platform use.

Social media platforms will be expected to activate overnight restrictions from midnight to 6 a.m. by default for users in this age group. Teenagers will be able to change the settings, but the protections will be enabled automatically.

Autoplay and continuously personalised content feeds will also be disabled by default. The government said these features can encourage prolonged use and reinforce potentially addictive patterns of engagement.

The measures are intended to avoid a sudden reduction in online protections when children turn 16. They complement the government’s previously announced plans to prohibit social media services from being offered to children under 16 from spring 2027.

The proposals follow a government pilot involving more than 300 teenagers and parents across the UK. Participating families said the overnight restrictions became part of their routines and helped improve sleep and concentration.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said older teenagers should retain greater independence while continuing to receive protection from features that could negatively affect their wellbeing.

The government also plans additional protections for children using AI chatbots. Proposed measures include encouraging regular breaks for users under 18 and taking action against services that provide dangerous, misleading or unverified mental health advice.

Ministers will work with regulators and other government departments to consider further restrictions, including possible bans on chatbots considered to pose a serious risk to children. Guidance for children, parents and guardians will also be added to the Kids Online Safety Hub.

Schools will strengthen media literacy through Relationships, Sex and Health Education classes covering AI, chatbots, misinformation and harmful online content. From September 2028, media literacy will also be embedded across the National Curriculum, including lessons on AI, data science, source analysis and technological bias.

The first regulations supporting the under-16 social media restrictions are expected to be presented to Parliament by the end of 2026, with implementation and enforcement planned for spring 2027.

Why does it matter?

The proposals reflect a growing shift from focusing solely on access to social media towards regulating how digital services are designed and used. By targeting autoplay, personalised feeds and AI chatbots alongside age-based protections, the government is seeking to address features that may contribute to excessive use and online harms.

If adopted, the measures could further shape debates on youth online safety beyond the UK, reinforcing the trend towards safety-by-design, stronger protections for minors and greater platform responsibility for children’s digital wellbeing.

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Australia’s eSafety report highlights gaps in child safety measures

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has published its third transparency report assessing how major technology companies are tackling child sexual exploitation and abuse under the country’s Basic Online Safety Expectations.

The report concludes that significant gaps remain across major platforms, particularly in responding to the growing threat of sexual extortion targeting children and young adults.

The report examines the practices of Apple, Discord, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Snap and WhatsApp, highlighting shortcomings in proactive detection technologies, reporting tools and safety measures. According to eSafety, many platforms in Australia are not fully using available technologies, including language analysis tools capable of identifying coercive scripts used by offenders.

The report also identifies weaknesses in reporting mechanisms across several messaging services and notes that private messaging and video environments remain particularly challenging for detecting sexual extortion and livestreamed child sexual abuse.

Between July and December 2025, eSafety received more than 2,000 complaints relating to sexual extortion, with men aged 18 to 24 accounting for the largest group of victims. Separate research with the Australian Institute of Criminology found that more than one in ten adolescents aged 16 to 18 had experienced sexual extortion, while more than half of victims were first targeted before the age of 16.

The report also notes that Microsoft is currently the only provider using dedicated tools to detect and disrupt livestreamed child sexual abuse during video calls.

While eSafety acknowledged incremental improvements—including Google’s and Snap’s enhanced detection of known child sexual abuse material, Meta’s expanded grooming detection and Discord’s blocking of known child sexual abuse URLs—it argued that much stronger action is still needed.

The Commissioner called for wider deployment of proactive detection technologies, faster responses to victim reports and greater investment in tools capable of preventing abuse before it occurs.

Why does it matter?

The report highlights growing regulatory expectations that online platforms should actively prevent child sexual exploitation rather than rely primarily on user reports. As threats such as sexual extortion become more sophisticated, regulators are increasingly scrutinising whether companies are deploying available technologies to detect and disrupt abuse.

The findings also reinforce a broader shift towards safety-by-design in online regulation. By identifying gaps in detection, reporting and intervention, the report could increase pressure on technology companies to strengthen protections across messaging, social media and video services.

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