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’s Protection of Children Code – one year on
One year on from Ofcom’s Protection of Children Codes coming into force, research shows real change, and children have noticed the difference. Its long-term success, however, will depend on robust political backing and strong, effective enforcement.
G7 leaders – including US President – commit to safety-by-design for children
G7 leaders have issued a joint call for a safer digital environment for children, urging tech companies to embed stronger protections across digital products and services, including AI systems.
170+ organisations and experts call for tech to be certified as safe for kids – or see their market access restricted
More than 170 organisations and experts have jointly called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to require tech to be certified as safe for children – or face restrictions on EU market access.
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.
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.
Momentum for age-appropriate design grows across Latin America
From Brazil and Argentina to Colombia and Mexico, 5Rights and partners are driving momentum for age-appropriate design across Latin America, urging policymakers to turn international best practices into enforceable law.
Five years of General comment No. 25: From promises to progress
General comment No. 25 gave the world a roadmap to realise children’s rights in the digital world. Five years on, the progress is real but leaders must act to systematically hold tech companies accountable.
UK Government takes aim at manipulative digital design practices
The UK Government has announced new measures to strengthen online protections for children and young people, with a clear focus on tackling addictive and harmful digital design practices.
5Rights Youth Ambassadors give evidence to UK Parliamentarians on AI
5Rights Youth Ambassadors Eashaa and Niranjana, represented 5Rights at the UK Parliament this week, giving evidence to an inquiry of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Online Safety examining the impact of artificial intelligence on children.
From Bangkok to Bogotá, a safer internet requires tech accountability
On Safer Internet Day, experience from around the world makes one thing clear: a safer digital world for children will not come about by chance.
Next steps for online safety in the UK: 5Rights sets the criteria for legislative action
In the coming weeks, Parliament will debate proposals on social media bans for under‑16s – a critical moment to strengthen the UK’s online safety framework. As children, parents, and civil society call for more ambitious protections, 5Rights Foundation is setting out clear criteria to ensure regulation delivers real‑world change.
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.
