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.
UK Information Commissioner issues first financial penalty under the Children’s Code
The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined MediaLab, owner of image-sharing platform Imgur, £247,590 for misusing children’s data, in a long-overdue enforcement action under the Age Appropriate Design Code.
UK government declines to introduce EdTech standards as classroom tech expands unchecked
The government’s refusal to introduce enforceable standards for educational technology leaves children’s rights secondary to commercial interests, as new research reveals mixed impact of AI and EdTech in schools.
Access limitations must be part of age-appropriate design, and effectively restrict companies from exploiting children
As legislators debate social media bans, 5Rights calls for access restrictions that deliver for children, arguing for tech-neutral measures that enforce existing restrictions on personalised services for under 13s and tiered default age-gating of risky features for teenagers.
Grok AI fails child safety: companies must build safely or face consequences
The discovery of child sexual abuse material on X’s Grok AI is the latest example of a pattern 5Rights has warned about for years. The tools to protect children exist. What’s missing is robust enforcement and the political will to hold companies accountable.
New ISO/IEC standard provides framework for privacy-preserving age assurance
5Rights contributed to the development of the new ISO/IEC 27566-1 standard, a new international framework for privacy-preserving age assurance systems.
Children are not test subjects: Joint Statement reaffirms children’s rights in the AI era
UN agencies and international organisations have come together to stress that states and tech companies must protect and respect children’s rights in the context of AI by design and by default.
The Age Appropriate Design Code can protect children from AI harms – if properly enforced
As the UK Government looks to close gaps around AI, 5Rights argues that stronger enforcement of the ICO’s Age Appropriate Design Code is critical to protect children from AI-related harms.
From Indonesia to ASEAN: building momentum for children’s rights online in Southeast Asia
Governments and experts convened at the ASEAN ICT Forum on Child Online Protection in Kuala Lumpur, setting the stage for a renewed Regional Plan of Action that embeds safety-by-design principles. ASEAN member states are set to adopt a renewed…
European Parliament resolution reaffirms commitment to children’s rights online
The European Parliament has adopted its Resolution on the Protection of Minors Online: a decisive commitment towards children’s rights online and a critical acknowledgment of the importance of robust enforcement.
Canada at a crossroads: protecting children in the age of AI
As Canada redefines its approach to artificial intelligence and technology governance, recent developments highlight that safeguarding children and their rights should be fundamental to the country’s digital future.
Leaders at Nigeria’s Online Safety Forum call for a digital world that protects children by design
At the Lagos Online Safety Forum, 5Rights Trustee Dorothy Gordon urged Nigerian policymakers to move from commitment to implementation – designing digital experiences that respect children’s rights, safety and privacy by default.
The UK’s Online Safety Act turns two: what’s changed for children?
As the landmark legislation reaches a milestone, 5Rights examine progress, challenges and what comes next for children’s rights online.