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Australia doubles penalties and expands eSafety powers under social media age law

The Australian Government has introduced legislation to strengthen enforcement of its minimum age law for social media platforms, expanding the powers of the eSafety Commissioner and significantly increasing penalties for non-compliance.

The reforms are intended to strengthen oversight of platforms operating in Australia that fail to prevent users under the age of 16 from accessing their services.

Under the proposed legislation, the eSafety Commissioner would receive enhanced information-gathering powers, including the authority to compel platforms and relevant third parties, such as age assurance providers and app stores, to provide documents and evidence demonstrating compliance.

The reforms would also substantially increase penalties for failing to comply with information requests and for systemic breaches of the legislation.

The government said millions of accounts belonging to users under 16 have already been removed, deactivated or restricted since the law entered into force.

However, the government argues that some major platforms continue to do only the minimum required, prompting the need for stronger enforcement powers and greater regulatory accountability.

Why does it matter?

The reforms mark a shift from establishing online child safety rules to enforcing them more aggressively. By expanding the eSafety Commissioner’s investigative powers and increasing penalties, Australia is signalling that platforms will face greater accountability if they fail to implement effective age assurance measures.

The legislation also reinforces Australia’s position as one of the most active jurisdictions in regulating children’s online safety. Its approach could influence other countries considering stronger enforcement mechanisms for age verification, platform responsibility and the protection of minors in digital environments.

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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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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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Debate grows over UK’s proposed social media ban for under-16s

Amnesty International has challenged the British government’s decision to introduce a social media ban for under-16s, arguing that it targets children rather than the design choices made by digital platforms.

Responding to the announcement, Amnesty International UK chief executive Kerry Moscogiuri said the government had correctly identified the risks facing young people online but had chosen the wrong solution.

Amnesty argued that social media companies have developed products and business models that prioritise engagement and profit over children’s well-being, privacy and rights.

The organisation argues that social media platforms should be redesigned and regulated more effectively rather than restricting access for young users. The organisation argued that social media remains an important space where children and teenagers learn, communicate with friends, access support networks and participate in public life.

The human rights group is calling for stronger platform regulation, including restrictions on invasive profiling, hyper-personalised recommendation systems, autoplay features and infinite scrolling.

Amnesty also called for stronger protections for children’s privacy and personal data, arguing that responsibility for online safety should rest primarily with technology companies rather than young users.

Ofcom supports further assessment of child online safety measures

In a letter to Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes said the regulator had begun examining age-assurance options and would provide an assessment by the end of October 2026 to support parliamentary consideration of the proposals.

The regulator also pledged to continue prioritising enforcement of existing child protection measures under the Online Safety Act and confirmed it will publish reports on enforcement outcomes and evaluate the impact of the proposed ban within a year of implementation.

Why does it matter?

The debate highlights two competing approaches to child online safety. One approach focuses on restricting access to social media for younger users, while the other seeks to address the design features and business models that critics argue contribute to online harms.

The discussion also reflects broader questions about platform accountability, children’s rights and digital governance. As governments around the world consider age restrictions, age verification requirements and online safety measures, policymakers continue to grapple with how to balance child protection, privacy, freedom of expression and access to digital services.

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Australian privacy concerns rise as trust in AI companies falls

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has released a major survey showing that privacy concerns are rising across Australia, while public trust in AI companies and social media remains extremely low.

The Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey, conducted every three years, found that 87% of respondents are more concerned about privacy than they were five years ago. The survey examines Australians’ privacy attitudes and experiences, including how recent events have shaped public expectations.

Trust was especially low for emerging and data-intensive sectors. Only 4% of respondents said they trusted AI companies, while 3% said the same for social media. Trust also declined across the insurance, telecommunications, technology, retail, and real estate sectors, while remaining highest for health service providers and Australian Government agencies.

Launching the report at the Data Privacy & Consumer Protection Summit 2026, Australian Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind said Australians’ expectations about privacy continue to sharpen as the information ecosystem becomes more complex, data-intensive, and difficult to navigate.

The OAIC said privacy complaints have increased by 73% year to date. Kind said trust is uneven across sectors and that wariness of emerging technologies is increasing, particularly around fairness, accountability, and the practical ability to exercise rights.

The survey also found that 68% of Australians would be more likely to use digital services requiring personal information if they knew their data was handled fairly and responsibly. Another 92% said data collection could be acceptable under certain conditions, including a clear purpose, consent or opt-in, limited collection, and the ability to opt out of non-essential data collection.

Kind said Australians want greater transparency in understanding their privacy rights and how their information is used, adding that improving transparency would help safeguard a healthy, informed, and vibrant democracy.

Why does it matter?

The survey shows that trust is becoming a central barrier to digital adoption, especially for AI and social media services. While Australians are willing to share data under fair and transparent conditions, the very low levels of trust in AI companies suggest that privacy, accountability, and explainability will be critical for public acceptance of emerging technologies.

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UK expert panel to shape online safety policy

The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has published the terms of reference for the Growing Up in the Online World expert panel, an independent group that will advise the government on children’s digital experiences.

The panel will provide impartial, evidence-based advice to support government policy development on children’s online well-being. Its remit includes digital technology, social media, gaming, AI chatbots, and proposals under the Growing up in the online world consultation.

DSIT said the panel will help identify evidence gaps and priority research needs for 2026 to 2027 and beyond. It is also intended to provide independent assurance that policy options are considered in the context of the evolving evidence base.

The panel’s responsibilities include reviewing emerging data on children’s online experiences, online safety, and design interventions. It will also scrutinise DSIT’s presentation of consultation evidence, identify risks and dependencies, and provide recommendations to inform advice to ministers.

Members will serve in a personal capacity and must declare conflicts of interest. DSIT said it will publish the panel’s membership once it has been agreed, along with declarations of conflicts of interest.

The panel will bring together expertise in child development, psychology, education, digital harms, online safety, behavioural science, platform design, data infrastructure, algorithmic systems, ethics, safeguarding, equality, human rights, and lived experience.

DSIT expects the panel to meet monthly via Microsoft Teams for the initial 4-month period, with additional meetings around key milestones. The panel will not set government policy, publish independent reports, represent employers or sectors, or engage with media on behalf of DSIT.

Why does it matter?

The panel shows how the UK is trying to ground children’s online safety and well-being policy in a broader evidence base covering platform design, AI chatbots, gaming, behavioural science, safeguarding, and lived experience. Its creation also points to a more formal advisory process around future policy choices, even though the panel itself will not set policy.

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UK committee urges stronger online safety protections

The UK Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee has urged the government to strengthen online safety protections for young people, following evidence on proposals to restrict social media access for under-16s.

Committee Chair Dame Chi Onwurah wrote to Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall and AI and Online Safety Minister Kanishka Narayan after an evidence session on age-based restrictions.

The committee said there is strong and consistent evidence of significant individual harms linked to social media use, alongside a growing body of evidence showing wider negative impacts. It said there is a clear need to protect people, especially young users, from those harms.

The letter argues that responsibility for preventing harm should not rest solely on young people or parents. It says government inaction on online safety is not an option and calls for stronger enforcement of existing age restrictions

The committee also urged the government to revisit its July 2025 report on social media misinformation. Although the government accepted almost all of the report’s conclusions, the committee said it rejected almost all recommendations for change. It is now calling for action on misinformation, harmful algorithms, and online harms in the new parliamentary session.

Dame Chi Onwurah said: ‘The status quo, where social media companies are neither accountable nor responsible for preventing harms, isn’t acceptable. It’s clear social media can cause real harm and more must be done to protect people, especially young users. If any other consumer product caused these harms, it would’ve been recalled or changed. Shouldn’t the same be true for social media services and design features?’

She added: ‘The government must urgently address gaps in the regulation, legislation and enforcement of online safety. It should revisit and adopt my committee’s previous recommendations on tackling misinformation and harmful algorithms and bring forward legislation to effectively tackle online harms in the new parliamentary session.’

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Greece accelerates digital governance with AI enforcement and social media age restrictions

Greece is moving to tighten online child protection and expand AI-based public enforcement as part of a broader digital governance agenda, Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Minister Dimitris Papastergiou has said.

Under the plan, social media platforms would, from 2027, be required to block access for users under 15 using age verification systems rather than self-declared age data. However, AI is already being used in road safety enforcement, with smart cameras issuing digital fines through government platforms.

The policy includes tools such as Kids Wallet, built on privacy-preserving verification methods that share only age eligibility. Authorities say the aim is to address risks linked to digital addiction while strengthening protections for minors across online environments.

Alongside these measures, AI is already being deployed in road safety enforcement. Smart cameras are being used to issue digital fines through government platforms, with a nationwide rollout planned to expand monitoring and improve compliance.

These measures form part of a wider effort to digitise public administration, reduce inefficiencies, and strengthen accountability. By embedding technology more deeply into everyday governance, Greece is trying to reshape how citizens interact with the state while also addressing long-standing systemic problems.

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Greece moves to restrict youth social media access with new digital age rules

New measures to protect minors online have been announced by Greece, introducing a national ‘digital age of majority’, restricting access to social media for users under 15.

The policy forms part of a broader strategy addressing child safety and digital overuse, with implementation scheduled for January 2027.

An initiative that places primary responsibility on platforms, requiring robust age-verification systems and periodic re-verification of existing accounts. Authorities will oversee compliance under the EU’s Digital Services Act framework, with penalties including fines and operational restrictions for violations.

The policy builds on earlier tools such as KidsWallet, an age-verification mechanism already deployed nationally.

Authorities in Greece argue that reliance on parental control alone is insufficient, citing increasing evidence linking excessive platform use to mental health risks, including anxiety, reduced sleep, and social isolation.

A proposal that aligns with wider European discussions on youth protection, including efforts to establish a unified digital age threshold across member states.

Greece has also called for stronger EU-wide enforcement mechanisms, positioning the measure as part of a coordinated approach to safeguarding minors in digital environments.

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