G7 calls for safe-by-design digital platforms for children

The leaders of the Group of Seven nations on Wednesday issued a comprehensive statement calling for a safer digital environment for children, urging digital service providers to adopt safe-by-design principles and protective default settings as their summit in France concluded. Brazil, Egypt, India, Kenya and South Korea joined the G7 in endorsing the call. "We, the leaders of the G7, are committed to providing a safe digital space for our minors, which include children and youth under 18, for their development, for their education and for their well-being," the leaders said, emphasizing that online experiences must be safe, enriching and development-focused.

The statement highlighted the central role of digital service providers in safeguarding young users. "Digital service providers have the important role and opportunity to provide digital platforms which are safe-by-design, secure, privacy-preserving, age-appropriate and protective of children and youth, including by default settings," the statement noted. It warned that minors face exposure to illegal and age-inappropriate content that poses risks to their mental health.

Platform design and safety standards

The leaders urged platforms to implement recommendation systems that elevate age-appropriate content while reducing exposure to harmful material. They called for mechanisms that empower parents and minors with greater control over their data and online experiences through protective settings. The statement also demanded that providers develop effective age assurance technologies that preserve user privacy while ensuring secure access, operating within applicable legal frameworks.

AI risks and enforcement measures

The leaders raised specific concerns regarding conversational artificial intelligence systems, noting that such tools risk undermining children's well-being and safety while reinforcing the need for critical digital literacy skills. They voiced support for efforts to help minors distinguish authentic from synthetic content and identify content provenance. The statement reaffirmed commitments to combating child sexual abuse material, non-consensual deepfake imagery, and violent extremism, urging platforms to cooperate with law enforcement and foster research partnerships to study both the benefits and challenges of digital services.