G7 countries have committed to a landmark shared approach to improving online safety for children, marking a significant moment in international digital policy.
Following talks between Digital Ministers in Paris, the UK and its G7 partners have, for the first time, agreed a common set of principles aimed at tackling the growing risks young people face online – from harmful content and exploitation to emerging challenges linked to artificial intelligence.
The agreement signals a shift towards embedding child safety at the core of digital services, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
A New Global Baseline for Online Safety
At the heart of the agreement is a commitment to ensuring children’s wellbeing is “built in by design” across platforms and technologies. The principles emphasise:
- Stronger age assurance measures
- Improved digital literacy for children and parents
- Greater responsibility on tech companies to manage risks
- Addressing emerging threats from AI chatbots and tools
The G7 also pledged closer cooperation between digital service providers and families, ensuring that parents, guardians and young users have greater influence over how platforms evolve.
Crucially, countries agreed to enhance data sharing between platforms, researchers and policymakers, helping build a clearer picture of how digital environments impact children’s mental health and development.
UK Policy Momentum Builds
The agreement comes just days after the UK Government closed its consultation on new measures to protect children online. The consultation explored a range of proposals, including:
- Potential curfews or bans for under-16s
- Restrictions on addictive features such as infinite scrolling
- Strengthened parental controls and oversight
With thousands of responses submitted by families, experts and young people, the Government is expected to publish its official response shortly – potentially aligning domestic reforms with the new G7 framework.
Balancing Innovation and Safety
While online safety dominated discussions, Ministers were clear that innovation – particularly in artificial intelligence – remains a central priority.
Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall highlighted the importance of maintaining public trust as technologies evolve:
“AI and other technologies have the power to transform our economies and create prosperity for people across all our nations.
“But ordinary citizens and businesses will only see those benefits when they have trust that these technologies are being developed safely and responsibly – and when children can grow up in a digital world designed with their wellbeing in mind.
“The agreements we have reached today are an important step on that journey: outlining a shared approach to protecting our children, backing our small businesses to adopt AI, and ensuring AI is developed safely and responsibly.”
The statement underscores the dual challenge facing governments: enabling innovation while safeguarding citizens – especially younger, more vulnerable users.
AI Risks and Opportunities in Focus
Beyond child safety, G7 ministers addressed broader risks linked to emerging technologies, including:
- The threat of cyberattacks
- Potential misuse of AI in chemical and biological domains
- The need for consistent AI risk assessment frameworks
Under France’s G7 Presidency, countries agreed to continue developing a shared understanding of AI risk management – seen as essential to fostering both innovation and public trust.
At the same time, leaders reaffirmed their belief in AI’s transformative potential, particularly in driving economic growth and improving public services.
Supporting SMEs to Adopt AI
Recognising that smaller organisations often lag behind in adopting new technologies, G7 members also agreed new support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
This includes the development of a practical tool – created in partnership with the OECD – designed to help businesses:
- Assess their AI readiness
- Identify skills gaps within their workforce
- Accelerate responsible AI adoption
The initiative aims to ensure the benefits of AI are felt more evenly across the economy, rather than concentrated among large technology firms.
A ‘Vision on AI Openness’
In a further step, G7 leaders endorsed a Vision on AI Openness, highlighting the importance of accessible and transparent AI models in driving scientific discovery, innovation ecosystems, and economic growth across regions.
This aligns with broader UK public sector priorities around openness, collaboration and responsible innovation.
As both national policy and international frameworks evolve, public bodies will play a key role in translating these principles into real-world outcomes – particularly in education, safeguarding and digital service delivery.
Image credit: iStock
