On the 16th February, the UK Government announced new measures to strengthen protections for children online, including action to close gaps in existing legislation and address the growing risks posed by artificial intelligence.
The announcement, made by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, signals a renewed focus on ensuring that online safety laws keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies, while providing greater support for parents and carers.
Closing loopholes in online safety law
A key part of the Government’s announcement is a commitment to close a legal loophole relating to AI chatbot services. Ministers have confirmed they will bring forward measures to ensure all AI chatbot providers are subject to duties under the Online Safety Act relating to illegal content. This is intended to ensure that emerging technologies are held to the same standards as other online services and that platforms cannot avoid responsibility for harm.
The Government has made clear that companies failing to meet their obligations will face consequences, reinforcing the message that “no platform gets a free pass” when it comes to user safety.
New powers to respond more quickly to online harms
Alongside closing existing gaps, the Government has announced plans to introduce new powers that would enable it to respond more quickly to emerging online risks. These powers are expected to be included in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, allowing ministers to take targeted action following consultation without the need for new primary legislation each time technology changes.
The Government has said this will allow it to act “within months” in response to new evidence about harms to children.
Tackling illegal content generated by AI
The announcement places a strong emphasis on the risks associated with AI-generated content. Ministers have highlighted the need to prevent the creation and distribution of illegal material through AI systems and have confirmed that action will be taken to ensure chatbot providers are brought within the scope of existing legal duties.
This follows recent concerns about the misuse of AI tools to generate harmful and illegal content, including non-consensual intimate imagery and child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Consultation on children’s digital wellbeing
The Government has confirmed that a consultation on children’s digital wellbeing will launch next month. Ministers have said the consultation will be informed by the views of parents, children, and civil society, with early engagement suggesting that families are seeking clearer protections and faster action to address online risks.
Protecting children and supporting families
The announcement also includes additional measures aimed at strengthening protections for children and supporting families.
Additional measures include options to limit children’s use of technologies such as VPNs, where they may undermine safety protections, and whether changes to the age of digital consent are required. The Government has also confirmed it will strengthen protections for families in the most devastating circumstances.
These commitments sit alongside growing discussion around proposals to restrict children’s access to social media in the UK, including a potential ban for under-16s. SWGfL has joined other online safety organisations in highlighting the need for a balanced, evidence-led approach and cautioning against the introduction of a blanket social media ban.
While we welcome the increased focus on protecting children from online harm, solutions must address the root causes of risk. This means strengthening the Online Safety Act, ensuring platforms are held accountable for the design and operation of their services, rather than relying on restrictive measures alone.
As we have previously stated, blanket bans risk creating the illusion of safety without tackling the underlying issues, including unsafe design, addictive algorithms, and a lack of accountability from platforms.
As the Government progresses its work in this area, including any future consultation on social media use by under-16s, SWGfL will continue to contribute its expertise to ensure that children’s safety and wellbeing remain central to any proposed action.
To further support parents and carers, the “You Won’t Know Until You Ask” campaign has been launched, providing practical advice on online safety settings, guidance on starting conversations with children about their online experiences, and age-appropriate advice on dealing with harmful content, including misogynistic material and so-called “ragebait.''
A shift towards faster, more responsive regulation
Online safety experts have welcomed today’s announcement, noting that the commitments should be implemented with ambition and urgency.
Charlotte Aynsley, Head of Online Safety Policy at SWGfL, said:
“We have already seen the harm caused by AI-generated content, including material produced by AI chatbots, such as synthetic sexual imagery and child sexual abuse material. Today’s announcement from the UK Government is a clear step towards holding platforms to account and closing the loopholes that leave children at risk. Children deserve safe online spaces, and the measures announced to strengthen the Online Safety Act are welcomed.
As peers have highlighted, these measures should provide reassurance to families as the young people in their care continue to navigate the online world. We now look forward to seeing these commitments translated into action, ensuring that the protections prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children, not just the interests of technology providers highlighted by the Prime Minister. As AI technology continues to evolve, stronger protections will be needed, and the UK Government must remain committed to ensuring these measures are effective in safeguarding children.”
By combining stronger enforcement of existing laws with new powers to act more quickly, ministers aim to ensure that protections for children remain effective as technologies continue to evolve. As the consultation on children’s digital wellbeing progresses, further detail is expected on how the Government intends to strengthen safeguards and support families navigating an increasingly complex online environment.
At SWGfL, our priority is the safe use of technology, and we look forward to seeing the impact of the proposed commitments, ensuring that children’s wellbeing remains at the centre of all action.
