Content Policy Archives | Page 5 of 233 | Digital Watch Observatory

Child safety concerns dominate Europe’s digital agenda

A growing majority of Europeans believe stronger online protections for children and young people should remain a top policy priority, according to new findings from the Special Eurobarometer on the Digital Decade.

The European Commission said 92% of Europeans consider further action to protect children and young people online a top priority, reflecting sustained concern over the impact of digital platforms on younger users.

Mental health risks linked to social media ranked among the biggest concerns, with 93% of respondents calling for stronger protections. Cyberbullying, online harassment, and better age-restriction mechanisms for inappropriate content were also highlighted by 92% of respondents.

Concerns over AI and online manipulation also remain high. The survey found that 39% of respondents cited privacy or data protection as a barrier to using AI, followed by accuracy or incorrect information at 36% and ethical issues or misuse of generative AI tools at 32%.

Around 87% of Europeans agreed that online manipulation, including disinformation, foreign interference, AI-generated content and deepfakes, poses a threat to democratic processes. Another 80% said AI development should be carefully regulated to ensure safety, even if oversight places constraints on developers.

The findings also show continuing concern over online platforms. Europeans reported being personally affected by fake news and disinformation, misuse of personal data and insufficient protections for minors, with concerns over fake news and child protection showing the sharpest increases since 2024.

Why does it matter?

The findings show that public concern over digital technologies in Europe is increasingly centred on safety, rights and accountability, particularly for children and young people. They also suggest that trust in platforms and AI systems will depend not only on innovation and access, but also on visible safeguards against manipulation, harmful content, privacy risks, and weak protections for minors.

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European Ombudsman criticises Commission over X risk report access

The European Ombudswoman has criticised the European Commission’s handling of a request for public access to a risk assessment report submitted by social media platform X under the Digital Services Act.

The case concerned a journalist’s request to access X’s 2023 risk assessment report, which large online platforms must provide under the DSA. The Commission refused to assess the report for possible disclosure, arguing that access could undermine X’s commercial interests, an ongoing DSA investigation and an independent audit.

The Ombudswoman found it unreasonable for the Commission to rely on a general presumption of non-disclosure rather than individually assessing the report. She said the circumstances in which the EU courts have allowed such presumptions differ from the rules applying to DSA risk assessment reports.

Although X has since made the report public with redactions, the Ombudswoman recommended that the Commission conduct its own assessment and aim to give the journalist the widest access possible, including potentially to parts redacted by the company. If access is refused for any sections, the Commission must explain why.

The finding of maladministration highlights the importance of transparency in the oversight of very large online platforms under the DSA, particularly where documents are relevant to public scrutiny of platform risk management and regulatory enforcement.

Why does it matter?

The case tests how far transparency obligations around very large online platforms can be limited by broad claims of commercial sensitivity or ongoing investigations. DSA risk assessment reports are central to understanding how platforms identify and manage systemic risks, so access decisions affect public oversight of the EU digital regulation as much as the rights of individual requesters.

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European Commission moves to standardise AI transparency obligations

The European Commission has published draft guidelines outlining how transparency obligations under Article 50 of the AI Act should be applied across certain AI systems. The guidance is intended to help competent authorities, providers and deployers ensure compliance in a consistent, effective and uniform manner.

Prepared in parallel with a separate Code of Practice on the marking and labelling of AI-generated content, the draft guidelines clarify the scope of legal obligations and address areas not covered by the code. The focus is on helping users identify when they are interacting with AI systems or encountering AI-generated content.

A targeted consultation is open until 3 June, allowing stakeholders to provide feedback on the draft framework. The consultation will inform the final version of the guidelines, which are intended to support more consistent implementation and enforcement of Article 50 obligations across the EU.

The initiative reflects a broader regulatory push in the European Union to strengthen oversight of AI transparency, particularly as generative AI tools become more widely used in content creation, communication and digital services.

Why does it matter?

Transparency obligations are central to the AI Act‘s approach to trust in digital environments. Clear disclosure and labelling requirements can help users understand when they are interacting with AI systems or encountering AI-generated material, reducing risks linked to manipulation, misinformation and misplaced reliance on machine-generated outputs.

Consistent guidance also matters for legal certainty. Providers and deployers need clearer expectations on how Article 50 applies in practice, while regulators need a common basis for enforcement across member states.

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Pakistan expands media literacy efforts with UNESCO support

UNESCO and Pakistan have launched ‘Digital Citizens for Peace’, a media literacy initiative designed to counter hate speech and disinformation by training young journalists and content creators. The programme responds to Pakistan’s widening gap between internet connectivity and critical digital literacy, as social media increasingly becomes the main source of news for millions of users.

Through immersive Media and Information Literacy camps, mentorship programmes, and open-access educational toolkits, the initiative aims to strengthen responsible digital engagement and encourage fact-based content creation across the country.

The project also seeks to create long-term institutional impact by integrating media liter acy resources into universities and community education programmes.

UNESCO and the Interactive Resource Centre are developing video-based educational tools to support the broader National Media and Information Literacy Roadmap of Pakistan, helping young people navigate digital platforms more critically while promoting social cohesion and responsible online participation.

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UK’s Ofcom prioritises child protection and AI moderation under Online Safety Act

The UK’s Ofcom has outlined its main online safety priorities for 2026–27, signalling tougher oversight of digital platforms under the UK’s Online Safety Act. The regulator said it will continue focusing heavily on child protection while expanding enforcement efforts against illegal hate speech, terrorism-related material, intimate image abuse, and AI-generated harms.

The regulator confirmed that more than 100,000 online services now fall within the scope of the legislation, creating major compliance and enforcement challenges. Ofcom said it will continue investigating platforms that fail to prevent harmful or illegal content, while also preparing new rules linked to additional UK legislation covering cyberflashing, non-consensual intimate imagery, and generative AI services.

Ofcom stated that major online platforms have already introduced broader age verification measures under regulatory pressure. Services including gaming, dating, social media, and pornography platforms have implemented stronger age checks and child safety protections.

Furthermore, the regulator said it will expand supervision of large technology companies and publish updated safety codes later this year, including guidance on AI-powered moderation systems.

According to Ofcom, future compliance work will increasingly focus on the effectiveness of platform moderation systems rather than relying solely on reactive content removal. The regulator also plans to strengthen protections for women and girls online through new technical standards designed to block the spread of non-consensual intimate images and sexual deepfakes at scale.

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Swiss media groups launch responsible AI journalism framework

Swiss media organisations have adopted a national code of conduct for the responsible use of AI, aiming to strengthen transparency, copyright protection and public trust in journalism.

The initiative is backed by major Swiss publishing groups, private radio and television organisations, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation and the national news agency Keystone-ATS. It is based on the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law.

The code states that media companies and their employees remain responsible for all published editorial content, whether produced by journalists or with the support of AI systems. It also commits media organisations to train staff in AI use, respect copyright, follow data protection rules and take steps to prevent the spread of false information.

Swiss media groups also agreed to inform the public transparently about their use of AI, including through dedicated information pages, and to introduce binding marking obligations for AI-supported content. The framework is designed as a self-regulatory tool at a time when public concern over AI-generated content remains high.

To support implementation, the code provides for a two-tier reporting and control mechanism. The relevant departments within media companies will first handle questions and complaints. In contrast, an independent AI ombudsperson will act as a second instance for serious or unresolved cases and publish an annual report.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin said AI could strengthen journalism if used responsibly and transparently, while warning that fake news threatens journalistic credibility and social cohesion. Legislative changes needed to implement the Council of Europe convention in Switzerland are expected by the end of 2026.

Why does it matter?

The Swiss code shows how media organisations are moving to set AI governance standards before legal obligations fully take shape. Its significance lies in linking AI-assisted journalism with editorial responsibility, transparency, copyright, data protection and complaint mechanisms, rather than treating AI labelling as the only issue. The model could influence how other media sectors balance innovation with public trust and accountability.

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Instagram pulls the plug on encrypted chats

Instagram will no longer support end-to-end encrypted chats from 8 May 2026, ending an optional privacy feature for some direct messages on the platform.

Users affected by the change are being prompted to download any messages or media from encrypted chats that they wish to keep before the feature is removed. Instagram’s help page says users may need to update the app to access or download their end-to-end encrypted chats.

End-to-end encryption allows only the people in a conversation to read messages or hear calls, with messages protected by encryption keys linked to authorised devices. On Instagram, however, encrypted chats were an optional feature rather than the default for all direct messages.

After 8 May 2026, users will no longer be able to send or receive end-to-end encrypted messages or calls on Instagram. The help page also notes that users can still report messages from encrypted chats and that shared content may still be forwarded outside an encrypted conversation.

The change marks a rollback of a privacy feature on one of Meta’s major social platforms, even as end-to-end encryption remains central to debates over secure communications, platform safety and user confidentiality.

Why does it matter?

End-to-end encryption is widely seen as a core privacy protection because it limits access to message content, including by the platform itself. Its removal from Instagram encrypted chats raises questions about how major platforms prioritise privacy features, user safety, product complexity and interoperability across their messaging services.

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UNESCO, Lebanon and Télé Liban launch campaign to promote media literacy

Lebanon’s Ministry of Information, UNESCO and Télé Liban have launched a nationwide media and information literacy campaign aimed at raising public awareness of misinformation and encouraging more responsible information sharing.

Funded by UNIFIL, the initiative, titled ‘Share Responsibly: Be Part of the Truth, Not Misinformation’, uses short episodes inspired by daily life in Lebanon to show how misleading information can spread and shape public perception.

The campaign features Yara Bou Monsef in scenarios set in taxis, shops, elevators and other public spaces, illustrating how people encounter and respond to misinformation in everyday situations. Through these examples, the organisers aim to encourage audiences to verify information before sharing it online or offline.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen media and information literacy, promote critical thinking and support more resilient and informed communities.

Why does it matter?

Misinformation campaigns are often discussed in relation to elections, conflict or online platforms, but public resilience also depends on everyday information habits. By using familiar public spaces and locally recognisable scenarios, the campaign frames media literacy as a civic skill rather than only a technical or platform-governance issue.

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Ireland and the EU intensify DSA pressure on Meta

Coimisiún na Meán, the media regulator of Ireland, has launched two formal investigations into Meta over the design of recommender systems on Facebook and Instagram under the Digital Services Act. The investigations focus on whether users are prevented from choosing recommendation feeds that are not based on the profiling of their personal data.

Coimisiún na Meán said concerns emerged following platform supervision reviews and complaints linked to potential ‘dark patterns’ and deceptive interface designs. Regulators are examining whether users can easily access and modify non-profiled recommendation feeds as required under Article 27 of the DSA, alongside whether interface designs may improperly influence user choices under Article 25.

John Evans, Digital Services Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, said recommender systems can repeatedly push harmful material into user feeds, particularly affecting children and younger users. The regulator also warned that Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) must ensure users can exercise their rights under the DSA without manipulation or unnecessary barriers.

EU investigates Meta over under-13 access on Instagram and Facebook

At the same time, the European Commission has preliminarily found Meta in potential breach of the DSA over failures to adequately prevent children under 13 from accessing Instagram and Facebook. Regulators said Meta’s age verification and reporting systems may be ineffective, while the company’s risk assessments allegedly failed to properly address harms faced by underage users.

Why does it matter?

These investigations are critical because they could shape how the DSA is enforced across Europe, particularly in cases involving children and algorithmic recommendation systems. If regulators conclude that Meta failed to properly protect minors or used manipulative interface designs that discouraged users from choosing non-profiled feeds, the case may set a wider precedent for how large online platforms handle age assurance, user consent, privacy protections, and recommender system transparency under EU law.

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Online Safety Act brings progress, but UK children still face harm online

A new report from Internet Matters suggests the UK’s Online Safety Act has introduced more visible safety measures for children, but has not yet delivered the step change needed to make their online lives meaningfully safer. Drawing on surveys and focus groups with children and parents, the report presents an early view of how the law is affecting families in practice.

The findings point to some clear signs of progress. Parents and children report seeing more safety features, including improved reporting tools, content filters, restrictions on certain functions, and stronger parental controls. Many children also say the content they encounter online is becoming more age-appropriate.

At the same time, the report argues that important weaknesses remain. Children continue to encounter harmful content at high rates, while age verification is widely seen as easy to bypass. Internet Matters also says that some of the issues families care most about, including excessive screen time and the risks linked to AI-generated content, are still not adequately addressed under the current framework.

The report concludes that parents are still carrying too much of the burden of keeping children safe online. It calls for stronger enforcement, more effective age assurance, tighter limits on harmful features, and a broader safety-by-design approach to digital services used by children in the UK.

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