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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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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech from behind a wooden podium adorned with the royal coat of arms. The setting features two large British flags in the background and a formal interior with wooden paneling.
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • Online Harms
  • United Kingdom

5Rights and Children’s Coalition urge PM to protect online safety in UK-US trade talks

More than 20 child safety organisations and bereaved families urge UK PM to protect the Online Safety Act amid fears it could be weakened in UK–US trade negotiations.
A conference room. On two projector screens is a video testimony from a young Ghanaian person. Sitting on tables in the foreground, facing away from the camera and looking towards the screen is three African children.
  • News
  • AI
  • Child Rights
  • Africa

5Rights and partners organise first Children’s Global AI Summit on Africa

Children from across the continent assembled for the Children’s Global AI Summit in Kigali, Rwanda convened by 5Rights and partners.
  • Press Release
  • AI
  • Global

Reclaiming AI for the next generation: 5Rights unveils Children & AI Design Code 

5Rights unveils the Children & AI Design Code, a bold framework ensuring AI prioritises children’s rights, safety, and wellbeing in design and deployment.
A mixed raced teen boy has back turned to the camera, with his left hand raised in the area. He is wearing a light mint green polo. He appears to be in a learning environment, like a school. In between the camera and the room is a glass pane that has a speech mark icon in a light gray colour, with "AI" in the middle.
  • News
  • AI
  • European Union

AI systems that exploit the vulnerabilities of children are now illegal in the EU

Article 5 of the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act is a true milestone, but more is required to protect children’s rights and needs by design and default.
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A wider shot of the same teenage girl seated comfortably on a couch at home. She is wearing a rust-orange sweatshirt, light blue ripped jeans, and white over-ear headphones, focused on her laptop. A yellow knitted blanket and blue wall add to the cozy setting. This image is a fuller version of the close-up shown above on the same page.
  • News
  • Online Harms
  • United Kingdom

UK’s online safety regulator launches first investigation under Online Safety Act 

Ofcom begins first Online Safety Act investigation into suicide forum. 5Rights urges firm action to protect children and calls for strong enforcement against harmful online services.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech from behind a wooden podium adorned with the royal coat of arms. The setting features two large British flags in the background and a formal interior with wooden paneling.
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • Online Harms
  • United Kingdom

5Rights and Children’s Coalition urge PM to protect online safety in UK-US trade talks

More than 20 child safety organisations and bereaved families urge UK PM to protect the Online Safety Act amid fears it could be weakened in UK–US trade negotiations.
A classroom setting with a group of children engaging with digital technology. Two girls sit at a table in the foreground; one in a plaid shirt is holding a smartphone with a red cover, while the other in a white jacket is focused on her own smartphone. The table has school supplies, including a notebook and markers. In the background, three boys are sitting on a desk, interacting with tablets and smartphones. The scene is well-lit, with natural light streaming through large windows.
  • News
  • Online Harms
  • Services
  • United Kingdom

UK Online Safety Act takes effect as tech industry keeps shifting blame to parents 

As the Illegal Harms Code of Practice enters into force, 5Rights urges Ofcom to begin robust enforcement and hold tech firms accountable.
A close-up of a black child typing on a laptop. You can only see their hands typing on the keyboard, with the laptop resting on their lap. They appear to be sitting next to others.
  • News
  • Online Harms
  • United Kingdom

Holes not fixed: UK regulator publishes final proposals for tackling illegal harm online

Ofcom has published its final proposal for the Illegal Harms Code, and in its current iteration, it will fail to utilise the Online Safety Act to best protect children online.
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.
A young boy wearing headphones lying on a bed holding his tablet device.
  • News
  • Online Harms
  • United Kingdom

UK Children’s Safety Code must hold tech companies to account

Ofcom draft Children’s Safety Code’s lack of consideration for safety by design means that, without a serious review, it will fail to protect children.
Two children are laying down on the floor staring at their respective devices.
  • News
  • Online Harms
  • United Kingdom

Children’s Coalition sets the bar for Ofcom’s Safety Code

The Children’s Coalition, led by 5Rights, sets requirements for Ofcom’s Code of Practice to ensure the Online Safety Act effectively protects children online.
A young person is sitting indoors at a desk and holding a smartphone in their right hand. They appear to be engaged in a video call, as they are looking at the phone's screen and raising their left hand, possibly waving. The person is wearing an orange shirt and has a dark smartwatch on their left wrist. In the background, there is a shelf with potted plants and some hanging clothing, which is slightly out of focus, suggesting the photo was taken in a home or casual setting.
  • News
  • Online Harms
  • United Kingdom

Ofcom must rethink Online Safety Act illegal harms Code of Practice

While acknowledging the scale of the task of implementing the Online Safety Act, 5Rights regrets that Ofcom’s proposal falls short of what is needed to deliver on the promises of the Act.
A young girl standing against a plain wall, bathed in soft purple and blue lighting. She is wearing a loose white shirt over a white top, paired with dark-coloured pants or a skirt. The girl is looking down intently at a smartphone that she is holding with both hands. The light from the phone softly illuminates her face.
  • News
  • Data Protection
  • Online Harms
  • United Kingdom

5Rights welcomes Data Bill changes on access to data for child inquests

Following work by 5Rights and Baroness Kidron, UK law now allows coroners to access data from tech companies in cases involving the death of a child, enhancing transparency and supporting bereaved families.