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xUK Government plans action on unsafe digital features to protect children online
Date: 21st October 2026
Category:
Civil Rights and Freedoms
The UK Government has announced plans for new legislation targeting digital features that put children at risk online. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said companies could be removed from the list of services restricted for under-16s if they make their platforms safer for children.
The Government plans to take a “safety-by-design” approach, making companies responsible for building safer features into their products rather than relying only on age restrictions.
Children’s rights organisation 5Rights has welcomed the announcement as a step towards greater accountability for technology companies. It argues that simply restricting children’s access to online services does not address the risks and allows companies to avoid responsibility when children still use their platforms.