NEW YORK - The Group of Seven (G7) digital and technology ministers have agreed on a new set of common principles aimed at making the internet safer for children and adolescents.
The agreement, welcomed by UNICEF, marks the first time the world's largest economies have adopted a shared approach to online child safety.
The framework brings together the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan around common standards designed to better protect minors in the digital world.
A Shift Toward Prevention
The agreement focuses on a "safety and privacy by design" approach, meaning that digital platforms should build safety measures into their products from the beginning rather than responding only after harm occurs.
UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Kitty van der Heijden described the agreement as a major step forward, stressing that online harm is not unavoidable and can be reduced through better platform design and governance.
Stronger Age Verification Measures
One of the key principles calls for reliable and privacy-respecting age assurance systems. These tools are intended to prevent children from accessing illegal or age-inappropriate content, including pornography and advertising for products such as alcohol and tobacco.
The ministers emphasized that age verification methods should protect children's privacy and use the least intrusive technology possible.
Safer Algorithms for Children
The agreement also urges technology companies to redesign recommendation systems and algorithms so that they prioritize children's safety and well-being rather than maximizing screen time and engagement.
Children's accounts should have privacy and safety settings activated by default, while parents should have access to tools that help manage online experiences and screen time.
Action Against AI-Generated Abuse
The G7 ministers called for urgent action to combat Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII), including content generated through artificial intelligence.
The principles highlight growing concerns about deepfakes and other AI-generated material that can expose children to exploitation and abuse online.
Supporting Parents and Digital Education
The framework encourages digital platforms to provide parents, guardians, and teachers with easy-to-use parental control tools.
It also promotes digital literacy and AI education programs to help children better understand online risks, recognize misleading content, and learn how their personal data is used.
Better Risk Management and Reporting
Under the agreement, technology companies are expected to improve risk assessment systems, provide child-friendly reporting mechanisms, and develop rapid response measures for criminal activity and harmful content.
The principles also encourage greater cooperation between governments, technology companies, researchers, educators, healthcare professionals, and civil society organizations.
UNICEF Calls for Action
While UNICEF welcomed the agreement, the organization stressed that principles alone are not enough.
The agency called on G7 governments and technology companies to quickly develop a clear implementation plan with specific deadlines and accountability measures to ensure that the new commitments lead to real improvements in children's online safety.
With more than 100 million children living in G7 countries and billions more using digital platforms influenced by these markets, UNICEF said the agreement has the potential to shape online protections for children around the world.
