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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 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.
A row of EU Flags in front of the European Union Commission building in Brussels. It is a bright, sunny day. In the top left of the image, you can see clear blue skies. The sun is bouncing off the glass and the metal grid that sits in front of it.
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • European Union

New EU Commissioners commit to protect children online – will they walk the talk?

5Rights calls for a comprehensive framework to make the encouraging sentiments of the newly agreed European Commissioners a reality.
New European Commission positioned to advance child rights online
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • European Union

New European Commission positioned to advance child rights online

President Ursula von der Leyen has confirmed the new European Commission for the 2024-2029 term. Child rights in the digital environment are a clear priority, but challenges on capacity and conflicting priorities must be overcome.
The Berlaymont building. A close-up of the European Commission lettering which sits to the right of European Commission logo, in the middle of the image. A man walks past in a blur underneath the logo.
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • European Union

DSA turns 1: more potential for advancing children’s rights

Marking one year since the DSA’s enforcement for VLOPs, we look at the progress made by the European Commission and outline the need for strong guidelines and enforcement to protect child rights online.
A diverse range of children are sat at a desk, engaging with robotic equipment and technology. They are happy and concentrating.
  • News
  • AI
  • Child Rights
  • European Union

EU AI Act enters into force: A crucial step for child protection

The EU AI Act is a promising framework towards ensuring that AI is used and developed responsibly, especially when it comes to protecting children. But its success hinges on robust implementation that prioritises children’s unique vulnerabilities.
A photo of a panel at the Eurochild Convention 2024 taking place in Malta.
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • Europe

Eurochild will drive holistic approach to child rights online

5Rights attends the Eurochild Convention 2024, building capacity among civil society organisations on digital issues in Europe.
A young girl with black hair pleated in braids and wearing a teal long-sleeve shirt is showing something on her phone to her friend, a boy seemingly younger than her wearing a striped long-sleeve shirt. The boy is standing while she is sitting down.
  • News
  • Data Protection
  • Europe

Spain advances privacy-preserving solution for age verification

The Spanish Government launched an app allowing users to obtain tokens proving they are over 18, encouraging age-appropriate experiences for children online.
A person in a blue suit is dropping a white ballot into a clear ballot box. The person's hand is reaching into the frame from the left side of the image and their ballot is folded in half. The ballot box is made of glass and is sitting on a table in front of the flag of the European Union: a blue flag with twelve gold stars arranged in a circle.
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • European Union

EU Elections: time to hold corporations accountable for children

With the Digital Services Act and AI Act including strong provisions for children rights, the incoming EU’s leaders must deliver practical change for young people.
A wide shot of the Council of Europe building in Strasbourg, France. The building is a large, modern structure with a flat roof and a lawn in front of it. Many flags are flying in front of the building, representing the different member states of the Council of Europe. The sky is blue with some white clouds.
  • News
  • AI
  • Europe

AI Treaty recognises child rights, fails on corporate oversight

The Council of Europe has adopted an International Framework Convention on AI, which appears strong on children’s rights but weak on corporate responsibility.
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.
Two children are sitting at a table, focused on a laptop. The girl points at the screen while the boy looks on attentively. The background shows a cosy room with a yellow chair, a bookshelf, and a large calendar hanging on the wall.
  • News
  • AI
  • European Union

AI Act has potential to transform children’s online experience

The AI Act was just voted into law by the European Parliament: how will it deliver on its promises to all users, including children?
A young child with curly hair is wearing a virtual reality headset and smiling. They are dressed in a denim jacket and a white shirt, standing against a plain beige background.
  • News
  • Child Rights
  • European Union

Enforcing DSA for children: a moral and a strategic EU imperative

Enforcing the DSA for children is both a moral duty and a strategic necessity for the EU. New 5Rights report unveils tool designed to support enforcement of the DSA with a focus on protecting children.