G7 Principles Mark Step Forward for Children’s Safety Online
Press Statement - London, 8 June 2026. World Vision welcomes the G7 Common Set of Principles for a safer and more secure digital space for children and adolescents, recognising them as an important step towards stronger accountability for children’s rights and safety online.
The agreement sends a clear message: children’s safety cannot be an afterthought. Digital platforms, services, and emerging technologies including AI, must be designed and governed from the outset to protect children’s safety, privacy, rights, and well-being, rather than addressing harm only after it occurs.
World Vision welcomes the strong emphasis on safety by design, greater transparency, age-appropriate safeguards, and more decisive action against harmful content and exploitative design practices. These measures are essential to ensure that digital services are not only innovative, but also safe and appropriate for children. We recognise that many protections are most effective when implemented together. In this context, the “know your user” principle, including understanding users’ ages is critical to creating online environments where all children can safely thrive.
We also welcome growing recognition among G7 partners of the importance of including children in discussions on digital governance and artificial intelligence. Governments should now ensure meaningful child participation in policy processes. At the same time, stronger commitments are needed from both governments and technology companies to embed children’s voices in the design and governance of digital services. Children must be recognised as rights-holders and active participants, not just vulnerable users in need of protection and their lived experiences are essential to shaping digital spaces that both safeguard them from harm and enable them to learn, connect, and participate safely.
In a year marked by a 26,385% increase in AI-generated child sexual abuse videos, it is encouraging to see G7 governments renewing their commitment to tackling the misuse of AI to facilitate such abuse. However, the real test will be implementation. Governments and technology companies must translate these principles into clear, enforceable actions, supported by proactive regulation, strong accountability mechanisms, investment in digital literacy, and child protection systems capable of addressing online risks.
Tech companies must be held accountable prioritising protection over profit and removing harmful content from their platforms, rather than deflecting responsibility by suggesting children should not be using these services. This approach will ultimately help create a safer internet for everyone.
World Vision stands ready to work with governments, industry, civil society, and communities to ensure that every child can access digital spaces that are safe, inclusive, and empowering and where their rights are fully respected, protected, and fulfilled.
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For media interviews contact: Karla Harvey, Sr Advisor of Impact Comms & External Engagement
Email: karla.harvey@wvi.org