News
Keep up to date with the latest development on data protection, children’s rights in the digital environment and more with our news articles and press releases.
Blocking explicit content for children is welcome – but the real problem is the business model
5Rights Foundation has welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement that technology companies will be given three months to strengthen protections preventing children from seeing or sharing explicit content, including through harmful AI-powered “nudification” tools.
Upcoming Event: Timely new book by 5Rights founder provides powerful insight into impact of tech and what we can do about it
Baroness Beeban Kidron will launch her new book Users in a live online conversation hosted by the Digital Futures for Children (DFC) centre on 25 June, bringing together leading voices in children’s rights, digital policy and safeguarding to examine the growing influence of technology on young people’s lives.
TikTok, Instagram and X exposed Latin America’s children to violent and sexualised content within minutes, new study finds
Children across Latin America may be at far greater risk online than platforms publicly admit, according to new research published today by 5Rights Foundation.
Ban social media, or make it safer? Government must put responsibility back onto tech platforms as consultation ends
As the UK Government’s consultation on Children’s Digital Wellbeing closes, 5Rights has called on ministers to respond to growing public concern about children’s online experiences with practical, enforceable measures that put safety and wellbeing first.
Children’s groups call on UK Government to tackle root causes of online harm
As the UK Government prepares to conclude a major consultation into children’s digital wellbeing, 25 of the UK’s leading children’s organisations have released a joint statement warning that the UK is failing to tackle the root causes of online harm and calling for decisive action that delivers meaningful change for children.
Ofcom intervention pushes Snap, Meta and Roblox to commit to child safety measures but evidence shows more is needed
New commitments from large tech companies show that regulatory pressure can drive change but children’s exposure to harmful design practices and content remains stubbornly unchanged.
New polling finds the public want platforms proven safe before use – not just banned
84% of the UK public are convinced that requiring companies to prove their products are designed to be safe before use would keep everyone safe on social media platforms. Only 2% think platforms are currently doing a good job of reducing the risk of harm to users.
Regulation is making digital spaces safer for children, but tech giants’ responses still fall short without strong enforcement
A new report from the Digital Futures for Children centre has found that legislation is having an important impact in driving new norms that benefit children, but that weak enforcement has incentivised poor practice by incumbent tech giants.
First ads go live in pan-European campaign to make tech safe for kids
5Rights Foundation, in partnership with The European Association of CommunicationsAgencies (EACA), has launched a major pan-European public awareness campaign calling on lawmakers to ensure children are protected by design in digital environments.
5Rights’ Coalition helps secure EU ban on nudifying AI but gaps remain
Advocacy efforts led by 5Rights over the past few months helped secure key protections for children in the EU’s Digital Omnibus on AI. But significant setbacks on children’s privacy and toy safety continue to leave children exposed to harms.
Meta’s inadequate age assurance likely in breach of the Digital Services Act
The European Commission has found Meta’s age assurance methods on Instagram and Facebook to be inadequate and linked this failure to the company’s incomplete and arbitrary risk assessment.
Why the age debate in Europe is asking the wrong question
Across Europe, policymakers are asking what age children should be allowed online. 5Rights is asking what kind of digital environment we are prepared to offer them once they are.
