Content Policy Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

UNESCO study examines digital platform influence on news in South-East Europe

A new UNESCO-supported study has found that digital platforms are increasingly shaping how news reaches audiences across South-East Europe and Türkiye, creating new opportunities for journalism while increasing publishers’ dependence on platform algorithms.

Published by the South-East European Network for Professionalization of Media (SEENPM), the study examines how social media platforms, search engines and recommendation systems influence news distribution and how governments across the region regulate digital media.

The UNESCO-supported study surveyed 71 media organisations across Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye. It found that digital platforms have become essential gateways to news for digital-native audiences while helping local and public-interest media reach wider audiences.

At the same time, newsrooms are increasingly adapting headlines, publishing schedules and visual content to satisfy platform algorithms, despite often lacking the technical expertise and financial resources needed to keep pace with constantly changing platform rules.

Researchers also documented numerous cases in which journalistic content was removed, downgraded, demonetised or restricted because automated moderation systems failed to understand local languages, cultural context or the public-interest value of reporting.

Many media organisations also reported limited communication with platform operators and ineffective appeal mechanisms, making it difficult to challenge moderation decisions or changes in algorithmic visibility.

The report recommends stronger transparency and accountability requirements for digital platforms, better appeal mechanisms, greater recognition of verified journalistic content, and increased support for media literacy and self-regulation.

UNESCO said the findings will contribute to the EU-funded project ‘Building Trust in Media in South-East Europe: Support to Journalism as a Public Good’, which seeks to promote rights-based digital platform governance while strengthening independent journalism across the region.

Why does it matter?

The study highlights how platform governance is becoming a defining factor in the future of journalism. While digital platforms enable publishers to reach larger audiences, they also shape news visibility through algorithms and automated moderation systems that can significantly affect traffic, revenue and public access to reliable information.

The findings also reinforce calls for more transparent and accountable platform governance. Better moderation processes, effective appeals and greater recognition of public-interest journalism could help ensure that automated systems support rather than inadvertently undermine media pluralism, local journalism and freedom of expression.

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IWF and NCA urge parents to protect children’s photos from AI misuse

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) have launched new guidance urging parents and carers to better protect images of their children online, warning that criminals are increasingly using AI to turn publicly available photographs into child sexual abuse material.

The campaign responds to a sharp rise in AI-generated child sexual abuse material and aims to help families make more informed decisions about sharing children’s image online and obtaining their consent.

The guidance accompanies a public awareness campaign across Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, encouraging families to review privacy settings, reconsider who can access children’s photographs and discuss image consent with young people.

Parents are encouraged to regularly review whether they are comfortable sharing images online, limit access through private groups where appropriate, and talk openly with their children about AI-generated imagery, deepfake nudes and online safety.

The campaign follows growing evidence that offenders are exploiting publicly accessible family and school photographs.

The IWF recently helped prevent the circulation of more than 100 AI-generated sexual images created from photographs taken from a UK school’s website after criminals attempted to blackmail the school. According to the organisations, even ordinary family photographs can now be manipulated into realistic abuse material without the knowledge of children or their parents.

The scale of the threat has grown significantly. The IWF identified 8,029 AI-generated child sexual abuse images and videos in 2025, a 14% increase on the previous year.

AI-generated videos increased from just 13 identified in 2024 to 3,443 in 2025, with nearly two-thirds classified as the UK’s most severe Category A abuse material.

The IWF argues that technology companies must strengthen safeguards around AI image generation tools before release, while continuing to support law enforcement efforts to combat online child exploitation.

Why does it matter?

Generative AI has made it significantly easier to create realistic child sexual abuse material from ordinary photographs, fundamentally changing the online child protection landscape. Images shared on social media, school websites or other public platforms can now be manipulated without a child’s knowledge, creating new risks for families and increasing the burden on law enforcement and child protection organisations.

The campaign also highlights that preventing AI-enabled abuse requires more than criminal enforcement. Stronger safeguards in AI image-generation tools, improved privacy practices, greater parental awareness and better digital literacy around image sharing and consent are all becoming essential components of online child safety.

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ITU showcases AI tools to strengthen digital trust

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has highlighted a new generation of AI researchers developing practical tools to strengthen digital trust, improve content authenticity and combat misinformation.

Ahead of the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, the Young Researcher Associate Programme is showcasing projects designed to improve multimedia authenticity, helping people identify manipulated content while supporting creativity and innovation in the age of generative AI.

The initiative operates under the AI and Multimedia Authenticity Standards Collaboration, established in 2024 by the World Standards Cooperation, which brings together the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the ITU.

The programme brings together early-career researchers from universities around the world to develop solutions addressing content authenticity, provenance and digital rights as AI-generated media becomes increasingly common online.

Three flagship projects illustrate the programme’s multidisciplinary approach. STOP&SCAN promotes critical thinking through a five-step framework that encourages people to assess the source, content and context of digital information before sharing it.

AMITO provides an AI-powered multimedia integrity toolkit through Telegram and WhatsApp, analysing suspicious images and videos while explaining its findings in plain language rather than simply labelling content as authentic or fake.

Meanwhile, the Policy-as-Code project maps AI-related regulations across jurisdictions, helping creators, businesses and policymakers understand how AI-generated content is regulated while laying the foundations for machine-readable compliance mechanisms.

The researchers will present their work at the AI for Good Global Summit on 9 July, demonstrating how technical innovation, behavioural science and regulatory frameworks can work together to build more trustworthy digital ecosystems. According to the ITU, strengthening digital trust requires collaboration across generations, disciplines and countries.

According to ITU, designing digital trust requires collaboration across generations, disciplines and countries to ensure AI strengthens rather than undermines confidence in online information.

Why does it matter?

As generative AI makes it easier to create convincing synthetic media, verifying the authenticity and provenance of digital content is becoming increasingly important for governments, businesses and the public. Technical tools alone are unlikely to solve the problem, making user education, common standards and transparent governance equally important.

The initiative also highlights the growing role of international standards organisations in shaping AI governance. By combining authenticity technologies, regulatory mapping and practical educational tools, the ITU and its partners are helping develop a shared foundation for trusted digital ecosystems that can operate across platforms and national borders.

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Pew survey finds majority support social media ban for under-16s

A Pew Research Center survey has found that 56% of US adults support banning children under 16 from using social media sites.

The survey, conducted from 26 May to 1 June 2026 among 9,750 US adults, found that 21% oppose such a ban, while 23% are unsure.

Pew said the findings come as governments around the world weigh stronger restrictions on teenagers’ use of social media.

Support for an under-16 ban extends across major demographic and partisan groups. Pew found that 65% of parents with a child under 18 support the measure, compared with 52% of adults without a child under 18.

Support is also higher than opposition among both Republicans and Democrats. Pew reported that 59% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents support the ban, compared with 54% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning adults.

The survey also found broad support for other measures aimed at minors’ social media use. Around 85% of US adults support requiring parental consent for minors to create social media accounts, while 78% support age verification and 78% support time limits for minors.

Support for these measures has increased since 2023, according to Pew, especially for age verification and time limits.

Why does it matter?

The findings suggest that child online safety restrictions are gaining wider public support in the United States, including across party lines and among adults without children. That could give lawmakers more political space to propose age verification, parental consent and time-limit rules. The survey also shows that support is not limited to outright bans: many Americans favour a broader set of safeguards that would change how platforms verify age and manage minors’ access.

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EU examines harmful design features in online platforms

The second annual report on systemic risks under the Digital Services Act has highlighted online risks faced by children and young people on very large online platforms and search engines.

The report was published by the Board for Digital Services and developed in cooperation with the European Commission. It provides an overview of recurrent systemic risks in the EU for very large online platforms and search engines.

Risks identified in the report include the spread of illegal content, cyberbullying, grooming and exposure to harmful material such as dangerous viral challenges and adult content.

The report also points to the role of platform design. Interface features and recommender systems can contribute to addiction-like behaviour, increase exposure to harmful content and intensify harmful interactions between users.

Platforms have introduced mitigation measures, including targeted protection tools, content moderation systems and user empowerment features.

The Commission said the report reinforces the role of the DSA as a transparency and accountability tool for understanding how online platforms function and shape risks in society.

The findings will support regulators, civil society, and platforms as the EU continues to monitor DSA implementation and efforts to create a safer online environment for minors.

Why does it matter?

The report shows that the EU platform regulation is moving beyond illegal-content takedown towards a broader assessment of systemic risks created by platform design. For children and young people, recommender systems, interface choices and engagement-driven features can shape exposure to harmful content and unsafe interactions at scale. The DSA reporting process, therefore, provides regulators and civil society with a clearer evidence base for assessing whether very large platforms are doing enough to protect minors.

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Council of the EU backs interim rules on online child abuse detection

The Council of the European Union has adopted its position on interim legislation that would restore a legal basis for online service providers to voluntarily detect, report and remove child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from their platforms.

The proposal aims to restore legal certainty after the previous temporary framework expired on 3 April 2026, while negotiations continue on a permanent EU regulation to combat online child sexual abuse.

The interim regulation introduces a limited derogation from the EU’s electronic communications privacy rules, allowing online platforms to voluntarily detect child sexual abuse material and report suspected offences to law enforcement authorities.

According to the Council, these voluntary measures are essential for identifying children at risk, supporting criminal investigations, prosecuting offenders and reducing the circulation of child sexual abuse material online.

The Council proposes extending the temporary framework until 3 April 2028 to avoid a prolonged legal gap while negotiations continue on the long-term Child Sexual Abuse Regulation.

Irish Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan said restoring providers’ ability to detect online child sexual abuse is essential to protecting victims and bringing offenders to justice. The proposal will now move to the European Parliament for a second reading, where MEPs may approve, amend or reject the Council’s position.

If adopted, the measure would restore the legal basis for voluntary detection activities while policymakers continue negotiations on a permanent framework governing the detection of child sexual abuse material across digital services in the European Union.

Why does it matter?

The proposal addresses a legal gap that emerged after the previous temporary framework expired, creating uncertainty for online platforms that voluntarily detect and report child sexual abuse material. Restoring a clear legal basis would allow providers to continue supporting law enforcement while longer-term legislation is negotiated.

The debate also reflects the EU’s continuing effort to balance child protection with privacy and fundamental rights. While the interim proposal focuses on voluntary detection, negotiations on a permanent framework are expected to continue raising questions about the appropriate balance between online safety, privacy and the responsibilities of digital platforms.

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IWF warns under-16 social media ban is not enough to stop online abuse

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has welcomed the UK government’s decision to restrict social media access for under-16s but argues that the measure alone will not significantly reduce online child sexual exploitation and abuse.

In a new blog, IWF Chief Executive Kerry Smith describes the proposed ban as a major policy milestone while warning that it must be accompanied by broader reforms if it is to deliver lasting improvements in children’s online safety.

According to the IWF, children continue to face a rapidly evolving range of online threats, including grooming, financial sextortion, commercial child sexual abuse and the growing exploitation of young people across digital platforms.

While limiting access to social media may reduce exposure to some risks, the organisation argues that determined offenders will continue to exploit encrypted messaging services, gaming platforms and other online environments if wider safeguards are not introduced.

The charity therefore calls for a more comprehensive regulatory approach centred on safety by design. Its recommendations include stronger safeguards for end-to-end encrypted services, tougher enforcement of the UK’s Online Safety Act, greater accountability for technology companies, and platform design that prevents harmful products and features from reaching users before risks are identified.

The IWF also highlights the need to regulate emerging technologies such as AI chatbots and strengthen device-level protections for children.

Why does it matter?

The IWF’s position reflects a growing international consensus that age restrictions alone cannot address the complex ecosystem of online child exploitation. As abuse increasingly migrates across encrypted services, gaming platforms and AI-powered technologies, policymakers are being encouraged to adopt broader regulatory frameworks that target platform design as well as user access.

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UNESCO report calls for regional approach to digital platform regulation

A UNESCO report has called for a more coordinated regional approach to digital platform regulation in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, warning that existing legal frameworks are struggling to keep pace with the risks posed by online platforms.

The report, ‘The Regulation of Digital Platforms in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean: From Diagnosis to a Roadmap for Action‘, examines Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama and the Dominican Republic. It assesses how national legal frameworks align with UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms.

The report finds that all seven countries provide constitutional protections for freedom of expression, privacy and safeguards against prior censorship. However, most still lack comprehensive rules for digital intermediaries and robust personal data protection frameworks, with Mexico and Panama identified as partial exceptions.

According to UNESCO, these regulatory gaps have encouraged sector-specific, reactive or punitive measures rather than the shared responsibility, transparency and accountability model promoted in its guidelines. The report also highlights concerns about regulatory independence, noting that some oversight bodies remain subordinate to executive authorities.

Electoral integrity is identified as a major concern. The report says social media platforms, microtargeting and generative AI have outpaced the capacity of many electoral authorities, increasing exposure to disinformation and manipulation. Panama is highlighted as an exception because it has criminalised large-scale manipulation through bots and deepfakes.

The roadmap recommends shifting regulation away from individual content moderation towards oversight of platform systems, algorithms, transparency and risk management. It also calls for moderation practices that better reflect local languages, cultures and indigenous communities.

The report concludes that countries in the region have limited bargaining power when dealing individually with major technology companies. It recommends stronger regional cooperation, including negotiating blocs, and suggests using banking and tax authorities to improve oversight of advertising revenues, monetisation and other platform-related economic activity.

Why does it matter?

The report argues that effective digital platform governance requires regional cooperation rather than fragmented national approaches. For many smaller countries, limited regulatory capacity and bargaining power make it difficult to influence the practices of global technology companies or address cross-border challenges such as disinformation, algorithmic transparency and AI-enabled manipulation.

The recommendations also reflect a broader shift in platform regulation. Instead of focusing primarily on individual pieces of content, UNESCO advocates greater oversight of platform design, algorithms, transparency and systemic risks, aligning with emerging international approaches to digital governance.

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France and WHO call for stronger safeguards for children online

French President Emmanuel Macron and World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus have called for stronger governance of digital environments to protect children’s health and well-being.

In a joint statement, they argued that social media, gaming platforms, AI and other digital services are increasingly shaping children’s physical, mental and social development.

The authors said digital technologies can support education, healthcare access, creativity and social inclusion, especially for children in remote or disadvantaged communities. However, they argued that these benefits depend on how digital services are designed, regulated and governed.

The statement warns that excessive or poorly governed digital exposure can be linked to anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, sedentary behaviour, online exploitation, harmful content and misinformation amplified by recommendation systems.

Macron and Tedros also describe generative AI as a force multiplier for both opportunity and risk. They said AI could support education, accessibility and healthcare, but warned that its long-term effects on children’s emotional development, relationships and well-being remain uncertain.

The authors pointed to growing international momentum behind child online safety measures, including age restrictions, stronger age assurance and safety-by-design standards.

They called on governments, technology companies, researchers, educators and civil society to build healthier digital ecosystems through regulation, transparency, independent research and stronger safeguards for children.

Why does it matter?

The intervention places child online safety within the language of public health. That broadens the debate beyond content moderation and screen-time advice to include platform design, recommendation systems, business models, AI deployment and digital governance. It also reflects growing international pressure for age-appropriate design, stronger age assurance and safety-by-design rules, while leaving open difficult questions about privacy, enforcement and children’s access to beneficial digital services.

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UK ATOC says social media ban is not enough

The UK Alliance Tackling Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse has welcomed the UK government’s plan to ban social media use by children under 16, while warning that the measure alone will not stop online child sexual abuse.

The alliance said age restrictions on mainstream social media platforms could reduce some risks. Still, children may move to less regulated digital spaces, including encrypted messaging services, gaming platforms and other online environments where grooming, sexual extortion and abuse can continue.

UK ATOC called for a broader, system-wide response focused on prevention, stronger platform accountability and safer-by-design digital services. It said governments, regulators, technology companies and online service providers share responsibility for reducing opportunities for abuse before harm occurs.

The alliance proposed a package of technical, legislative and regulatory measures. These include stronger safeguards in end-to-end encrypted environments, robust age-assurance systems, mandatory safer-by-design principles, stronger enforcement under the Online Safety Act and clearer regulation of AI chatbots and companion services.

It also called for device-level nudity detection, upload prevention for known child sexual abuse material and measures to address livestreamed abuse, grooming and sexual extortion.

UK ATOC welcomed the government’s plan to introduce nudity-detection tools on children’s devices, describing it as an important additional safeguard.

The statement reflects a wider concern that age bans may reduce children’s exposure to some mainstream platforms, but cannot replace a comprehensive child-safety framework across the broader digital ecosystem.

Why does it matter?

The UK debate shows the limits of age-based social media bans as a child-safety tool. Online child sexual exploitation and abuse can move across platforms, devices, encrypted services, gaming environments and AI-enabled systems. UK ATOC’s response therefore shifts the focus from access restrictions alone towards prevention, safer design, platform duties and technical safeguards that address how abuse actually happens across digital services.

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