G7 Digital Ministers have agreed a first shared approach to protecting children online, with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology confirming the commitments after talks in Paris on Friday 29 May 2026.
The agreement brings G7 countries into a common framework for addressing online risks affecting children and young people. It was reached during ministerial discussions covering online safety, artificial intelligence, digital resilience and economic growth.
The UK said the commitments complement its ambition to make the country the safest place in the world to be online. Ministers also agreed measures to help small and medium-sized businesses adopt AI and improve readiness for emerging technologies.
G7 Agrees Shared Online Safety Principles
G7 Digital Ministers agreed shared principles for protecting children and young people from online harms. The approach covers harmful content, exploitation risks, digital literacy, AI chatbot risks and expectations for digital service providers.
The agreement sets out that children’s safety should be considered from the start when digital services are designed. It also places emphasis on effective age assurance and closer cooperation between platforms, children, parents and guardians.
- Digital Literacy: G7 countries agreed that children should be better supported to understand risks in digital environments.
- AI Chatbot Risks: Ministers recognised risks linked to children’s interactions with AI-powered services.
- Provider Responsibility: Digital services are expected to take a robust approach to online safety from the design stage.
Child Protection Measures in Digital Services
The G7 commitments focus on building safety into digital services rather than treating child protection as a later addition. The agreement also supports improved cooperation between online platforms and families.
Age assurance is identified as a key element of the agreement, alongside expectations that digital services consider children’s safety during product design and operation. The UK government said the commitments align with wider efforts to reduce online harms affecting children and young people.
Online Safety Commitments Overview
| Indicator | Recent Movement | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Child online safety | Shared G7 approach agreed | G7 Digital Ministers agreed common principles to protect children and young people online. |
| Age assurance | Included in agreement | The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said safety should be supported by effective age assurance. |
| Platform cooperation | Closer cooperation supported | The agreement calls for stronger engagement between digital service providers, children, parents and guardians. |
UK Consultation on Online Harms
The agreement follows the closure of the UK’s consultation on protecting children from online harms. The consultation sought views on measures including possible bans or curfews for under-16s, restrictions on harmful app features and stronger parental controls.
The government said the consultation received thousands of responses from children, parents and experts. It intends to respond in the very near future.
Data Sharing and Research Cooperation
G7 countries also agreed that data sharing between online platforms, parents and researchers should be improved. The aim is to better understand how digital services affect children’s wellbeing.
The commitments also seek to improve access to data that can help researchers, regulators and policymakers better understand how digital services affect children and young people. Ministers said improved visibility supports more informed online-safety decision-making.
- Research Access: Better data sharing is intended to help researchers assess the effect of digital services on children.
- Parental Information: Improved cooperation may help parents and guardians understand online risks more clearly.
- Platform Accountability: Greater visibility over service impacts supports more informed safety decisions.
G7 Support for Trusted AI Development
Ministers also discussed how AI can support economic growth while being developed and used in ways people can trust. G7 countries reaffirmed their commitment to responsible AI development and use.
The discussions included risks from cyberattacks and the development of chemical and biological capabilities. Under France’s Presidency, G7 countries agreed to further discussions on a mutual understanding of AI risk assessment frameworks.
AI Development and Cooperation Measures
| Indicator | Recent Movement | Context |
|---|---|---|
| AI risk assessment | Further G7 discussions agreed | Ministers agreed to continue work on mutual understanding of AI risk assessment frameworks. |
| SME AI adoption | New support tool agreed | A tool developed with the OECD will help small businesses assess AI readiness. |
| AI openness | Vision agreed | G7 leaders recognised the role of AI models in innovation, scientific discovery and economic growth. |
Supporting Small Business AI Adoption
G7 ministers also agreed support for small and medium-sized enterprises adopting AI through a tool developed with the OECD. The initiative is intended to help smaller businesses assess AI readiness while promoting responsible technology adoption.
International Cooperation and Next Steps
G7 members will take forward the commitments with international organisations, industry and academia. The agreement also covers AI-generated content detection, secure AI systems, trusted data flows and digital sector resilience.
Ministers also recognised pressures on energy and infrastructure linked to growing AI adoption. They agreed to continue work on making the digital and AI sector resilient and resource-efficient.
Stakeholder Comments
Liz Kendall, Science and Technology Secretary said;
“AI and other technologies have the power to transform our economies and create prosperity for people across all our nations.”
“But ordinary citizens and businesses will only see those benefits when they have trust that these technologies are being developed safely and responsibly — and when children can grow up in a digital world designed with their wellbeing in mind.”
“The agreements we have reached today are an important step on that journey: outlining a shared approach to protecting our children, backing our small businesses to adopt AI, and ensuring AI is developed safely and responsibly.”
The G7 agreement establishes a shared approach to child online safety centred on platform responsibility, age assurance, digital literacy and improved research access. Ministers also agreed continued cooperation on AI risk assessment, trusted technology development and measures intended to support responsible adoption of emerging technologies.
Sources: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and The Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organisation delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analysed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
