News

At the Marie Collins Foundation (MCF), we are unequivocal in our belief that children and young people deserve to be safe online.

As a charity specialising in Technology-Assisted Child Sexual Abuse (TACSA), we see first-hand the devastating impact online harms can have on children, young people and families. We understand why many parents and carers will welcome yesterday’s announcement and the desire for stronger action to improve children’s online safety.

We welcome the Government's commitment to reducing risks to children online and their understanding of the devastation online abuse can cause. As we learn more about the details of the proposed ban, MCF will continue to make itself available to policymakers, drawing on its specialist experience in this area and the perspectives of those with lived experience. It is hoped that this offer will ensure the complexities of this ban are fully explored, including how children experiencing harm will have access to information, and are confident in seeking support from trusted adults without fear of blame.

We are pleased to see measures targeting specific high-risk functionalities linked to harm, including livestreaming, contact between children and adult strangers, and sexualised AI chatbot interactions. These are areas we have highlighted to Ofcom in the past for special regulatory attention.

We also welcome the stronger device-level protections announced by Government last week, which may help reduce children’s exposure to harmful content regardless of which apps or platforms they are using.

Importantly, we are encouraged to see recognition that vulnerability does not suddenly stop at 16. Consideration of older teenagers better reflects the reality of childhood and adolescence and helps avoid an abrupt safeguarding cliff edge.

While restricting access may reduce some harms, it does not address the core of the problem. MCF has long advocated for a safety-by-design approach that encapsulates child protection and wider harms. Ultimately, harm happens because offenders exploit digital environments, reinforcing the need for platforms accessible to under 18s to have children’s safety at their core.

We recognise the challenges that Government has set out and, while we have some reservations about aspects of what is being proposed, MCF remains resolute in our vision of a world where everyone harmed by technology-assisted child sexual abuse gets the support they need to recover.

Lawrence
CEO
Marie Collins Foundation