Government to host summit about keeping children safe online in age of AI
The Government has called on more young people to have a say in how they stay safe online, after the Prime Minister told tech bosses the risks children face on social media “cannot continue like this”.
Despite nearly 50,000 responses to the Government consultation on keeping children safe online, Technology Minister Liz Kendall has called for more young people to respond before it closes in five weeks, as respondents have only included around 6,000 children so far.
The call comes ahead of the Childhood in the Age of AI summit on Monday, where Ms Kendall and the NSPCC will meet young people to discuss how AI and technology are shaping childhood.
As she prepared for Monday’s summit, Ms Kendall said: “What you tell us will shape what happens next.
“We are listening and we will take action.”
The event, held at Wilton Park in Sussex, will also be attended by policymakers, tech industry representatives and online safety campaigners.
It follows a meeting in Downing Street on Thursday between Sir Keir Starmer and executives from tech companies Meta, Snap, Google, TikTok and X, where the Prime Minister said things “need to change”.
Sir Keir said: “Things can’t go on like this, it needs to change because social media right now is putting our children at risk.
“A world where children are protected, even if that means restricting access, is preferable to a world where the price of participation is harm.”
The Prime Minister added: “I am determined to build a better future for our children and I look forward to working with you on this.
“I think it can be done. I think it’s not a question of whether it should be done, but how it is done.”
Pressure is mounting to impose a social media ban on under-16s, but MPs again rejected Lord’s proposal on Wednesday.
Peers twice voted to introduce age limits in the Children’s Welfare and Schools Bill, but both efforts failed in the House of Commons.
The consultation will gather public opinion on the ban and will also look at how to limit addictive design features in AI chatbots and games.
Ms Kendall said: “I want every young person to hear clearly: We are committed to keeping you safe online and preparing you for the future. It’s not a question of whether to act, but how.”
“This week the Prime Minister and I told tech companies that children’s safety must come first. No excuses, no delays.
“But we want to understand what life online actually feels like for you, so we can make it better. What you tell us will shape what happens next. We’re listening, and we’ll take action.”
The government particularly urged families in the Midlands, North West, Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to respond to the consultation because responses from these areas were lower relative to population size.
Since Thursday’s meeting, the Prime Minister has written to global social media chief executives, asking them to use all their resources to help young people.
