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.
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.
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.
5Rights and the Digital Futures for Children Centre drives transformation in EdTech to protect children’s rights
New project drives urgent national conversation on whether technology used in the classrooms is meeting children’s right to education.
Classroom AI apps expose children to porn site trackers and give UK students wrong US helplines, new report reveals
Children using well-known AI-powered apps in classrooms, such as Grammarly, Character.AI and others, are being tracked by adult website advertisers, given dangerous misinformation about self-harm and taught false facts, according to new research carried out by LSE and 5Rights Foundation’s Digital Futures for Children centre.
UK’s Age Appropriate Design Code: four years of global impact before key review
As the UK’s pioneering children’s data protection code inspires global change, the upcoming review of the Code presents an opportunity to build on this success and tackle the risks children face and want to be addressed.
Why children need the Online Safety Act: protecting children in a digital wild west
With online grooming crimes in the UK surging 89% and a quarter of children exposed to pornography by age 11, now is not the time to take a step back on online safety.
New research reveals how children face financial harm online
New study published by the UK regulator Ofcom reinforces the urgent need for effective regulation of loot boxes, in-app purchases and other persuasive design strategies that exploit children’s vulnerabilities and drive them to spend money online.
5Rights UK Youth Ambassadors celebrate new online safety laws and call for the next chapter in building a better digital world
From today, it is illegal in the UK for tech companies to allow children access to pornography and expose them to other harmful content in their recommender feeds. 5Rights spoke to its UK Youth Ambassadors about the changes and their vision for what must come next.
Inquiry finds UK Government must regulate GenAI and close online safety loopholes
The UK Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee urges the Government to regulate generative AI tools and close critical gaps in online safety regulation, echoing calls from 5Rights and civil society.
New UK data law: what does it mean for children’s privacy?
The new UK data law introduces significant changes in children’s data protection, including new codes of practice for EdTech, AI and automated decision-making, following years of advocacy by 5Rights.