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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.

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A wider view of the Internet Governance Forum 2024 entrance in Riyadh, capturing the sign as well as a bustling crowd entering the venue. The image features a mix of participants, including men in traditional Middle Eastern attire and visitors in casual and formal clothing, set against the backdrop of an elaborately decorated hall with luxurious architectural details.
  • News
  • AI
  • Global

AI regulation must keep up with protecting children  

An analysis of the growing role of AI in children’s lives, highlighting risks to their privacy, mental health, and education while exploring legislative efforts to ensure robust protection frameworks.
A close-up of a little boy in a teal hoodie on a laptop. He is lent over a yellow desk and has his left thumb resting on the trackpad, seemingly navigating the laptop. He is wide-eyed and very engaged.
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • United Kingdom

Win for children: UK make safety by design a strategic priority

The UK Government has announced new statutory strategic priorities on the enforcement of the Online Safety Act, instructing Ofcom to enforce safety by design. A big step for children’s safety on World Children’s Day.
A wider shot showing the large Instagram logo on a screen. In the foreground, there is a silhouette of a person holding and using a smartphone, with the focus primarily on the logo. This is the full version of the close-up shown above.
  • News
  • Sexual Exploitation
  • Global

Instagram is not doing enough to keep children safe

In response to Instagram’s latest new safety features, 5Rights believes more should be done to ensure children are fully protected on the platform.
A wider shot showing two young people in the background, dancing in front of a smartphone that is set up in a ring light stand. The phone screen shows the TikTok logo, and the scene suggests that they are filming a TikTok video. The blue sofa and a potted plant are visible in the background. This is the full version of the close-up shown above.
  • News
  • Online Harms
  • US

TikTok knows it is harming children

Internal TikTok documents reveal the company is promoting addictive design and targeting children, in full consciousness of the harms of its product
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A wider view of a voting scene showing a mother holding her young child in her arms as they stand behind a voting booth marked with the American flag and "VOTE." The surrounding area of the voting hall is visible, with other individuals in the background preparing to vote.
  • News
  • Online Harms
  • US

US elections: bipartisan support for youth online privacy and safety must continue

As the US prepares to enter a new legislative term, 5Rights calls for continued bipartisan support to advance children’s and teens’ privacy and safety online.
A wider shot showing two young people in the background, dancing in front of a smartphone that is set up in a ring light stand. The phone screen shows the TikTok logo, and the scene suggests that they are filming a TikTok video. The blue sofa and a potted plant are visible in the background. This is the full version of the close-up shown above.
  • News
  • Online Harms
  • US

TikTok knows it is harming children

Internal TikTok documents reveal the company is promoting addictive design and targeting children, in full consciousness of the harms of its product
A group of people standing and sitting in front of large posters with bold text that reads "ATTENTION: THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT" on a red background. The posters feature partially obscured images of children's faces, with the text overlaid on them. The group is at a conference in Toronto titled “Attention: The Kids Are All Right”, with some standing in a row while others sit, facing toward the camera. The setting suggests a formal or professional gathering, with a spotlight on a few attendees and the posters in the background dominating the space.
  • News
  • Online Harms
  • Canada

Child online safety at the centre of discussions in Canada 

5Rights addressed Canada’s legislative efforts on children’s digital safety at a Toronto conference, emphasising global best practices and the importance of privacy and safety by design.
A woman on the left and a man in the middle. Both are sat on wooden chairs. They are positioned underneath a wooden stable. You can the trees and evening light towards the back of the stable. To the right of the man is an empty chair, used in this campaign to signify the child 'lost' to social media.
  • News
  • Online Harms
  • US

Supporting families globally: our work with The Parents’ Network

5Rights is partnering with Archewell’s Parents’ Network to work with families of children severely impacted by online harms to call for online spaces to be designed with the needs and rights of children in mind.
The US and the California state flag waving in the wind in front of the dome of the California State Capitol, Sacramento, California
  • News
  • Data Protection
  • US

Court Upholds Key Provisions of California’s Age Appropriate Design Code

A US federal court ruling affirms that requiring tech to be safe and private by design and default for kids is appropriate, opening the way for Age Appropriate Design Codes across the country.
Parliament hill, Canada’s Parliament building, with a Canadian flag flying in the cloudy sky
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • Data Protection
  • Canada

Canada – 5Rights welcomes bills on child online privacy and safety

The two bills on online safety and privacy that are being put before the Canadian Parliament are an opportunity for the protection and empowerment of children.
A teenage boy is sitting on a light green sofa. He is looking down at the smartphone in his right hand, and the smartphone is plugged into a charger. He face is showing limited expression, and the overall feel of the image is sad.
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • US

U.S. Surgeon General calls for action on young people’s mental health crisis

The U.S. Surgeon General is calling for warning labels on social media to alert to the fact that the services are “associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents”.
Maryland Governor, Wes Moore sits in the middle of a large table. He is surrounded by witnesses to the signing.
  • News
  • Data Protection
  • US

Child protection laws signed in Maryland and passed in Vermont

Maryland Governor signs Kids Code into law, as Vermont legislators pass comprehensive data privacy law with age appropriate design provisions
Two children sitting close together on a porch or outdoor steps, with one of them focused on a smartphone. The child on the left, who has long brown hair and is wearing a navy blue t-shirt, is intently looking at the phone he is holding in both hands. The child on the right, who has short dark hair and is wearing glasses and a green and white plaid shirt, is sitting slightly behind and to the side, also looking at the phone. The background shows some greenery, suggesting they are outdoors on a porch or patio. Both children appear to be concentrating on whatever is displayed on the phone, suggesting that they might be playing a game or watching something together.
  • News
  • Data Protection
  • US

Maryland Passes Kids Code to Strengthen Child Online Safety

Maryland becomes the second US State to adopt the Age-Appropriate Design Code, echoing California’s privacy standards for children and setting a new benchmark for online safety.
A black girl, sat on her bed on top of her duvet. She is holding a smartphone in right hand and holding it to her ear. Her head is tilted to the left and she is smiling.
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • US

US gains momentum for children’s privacy and safety

A brief overview of the increasing number of State legislatures across the US that have taken up the cause of privacy and safety by design for children.
Three children sitting close together on a light-coloured couch. The child in the centre is holding a phone with a yellow case, while the other two children look on with interest and amusement. The child on the left is wearing a striped red and white t-shirt and has short curly hair. He is smiling softly as he looks at the phone. The child in the middle, who is holding the phone, is wearing a yellow t-shirt and has her hair tied back. She is smiling as she shows something on the screen to the others. The child on the right, wearing a white hoodie with green tie-dye patterns and dark pants, is laughing with his hand covering his mouth. He also holds a yellow cup in his other hand.
  • News
  • Data Protection
  • US

New Push in the US for Age Appropriate Design Codes

Looking to the year ahead, we reflect on the work carried out in the US in the past year engaging with legislators in Maryland, Minnesota, and New Mexico.
A photograph of the California State Capitol building in Sacramento. The neoclassical architecture features a large central dome, flanked by columns and a pediment at the entrance. The dome is topped with a smaller structure and an American flag flying at the peak. The building is surrounded by lush greenery, including tall trees that frame the scene on both sides.
  • News
  • Data Protection
  • US

California AADC ruling: a setback for child data protection 

The decision by a district judge in California to pause the implementation of the Age-Appropriate Design Code raises concerns over child safety and data protection, questioning tech accountability.