Inquiry into "Artificial Intelligence (AI) Harms and Children’s Online Safety"
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Children's Online Safety is delighted to announce the opening of a call for evidence on an inquiry into Artificial Intelligence (AI) Harms and Children’s Online Safety: “AI and Online Safety: Safeguarding Children’s Digital Futures”
The development and deployment of AI systems across digital platforms are accelerating rapidly. While AI offers opportunities for innovation and safety enhancements, it also presents emerging risks, particularly for children and young people online.
The Online Safety Act (2023) has laid out a foundational framework for protecting children online, but there is growing concern that it does not fully account for the scale and nuance of AI-related risks.
This inquiry seeks to examine the harms posed by AI to children in online spaces, assess how effectively current regulations, including the Online Safety Act, address these risks. The inquiry will also examine how AI can help to deliver more effective safeguarding for children online and make recommendations for Government to address any shortcomings in existing legislation.
The objectives of the inquiry are as follows:
- Investigate the ways AI is perpetuating existing online harms, examining emerging harms and research that has been conducted into the impact of AI on children’s well being and development.
- Identify regulatory and legislative gaps in the Online Safety Act relating to AI technologies.
- Explore how AI can be used positively to support children’s online safety.
- Recommend practical, child-centred approaches to AI governance and online safety in the context of the forthcoming AI Bill.
Terms of Reference:
Commencing the 12 November 2025, the Group invites written submissions addressing any or all of the issues raised in the following terms of reference:
- The current and emerging risks AI poses to children online (Max 3000 characters): How is AI perpetuating existing online harms? What new harms have we seen emerge as a result of AI (e.g. chatbots and AI companions)? What research has been conducted into the impact of AI on children’s wellbeing and development?
- AI-Models, Moderation, and Automated Decision-Making (Max 3000 characters): What is the role of AI in content moderation, its limitations, and how do automated systems impact children’s exposure to harm? How can we use AI to address online harms to children?
- Young people and their experiences of AI (Max 3000 characters): What research has been conducted into children’s perception and use of AI? What key harms have been identified by children relating to AI? What educational support is available to children concerning AI?
- AI Regulation (Max 3000 characters): How is AI addressed in the Online Safety Act? Is further regulation needed to address any existing loopholes in legislation, such as in the forthcoming AI Bill? What would be the appropriate vehicle to address these legislative loopholes?
The Group welcomes written submissions by 11:59pm on 7 January 2025.
The inquiry will invite a select group of stake holders to contribute to oral evidence sessions taking place from January 2026.
Joani Reid MP
Member of Parliament for East Kilbride and Strathaven, Labour Party
