Report

Defend Digital Me. (forthcoming, 2026). Age Assurance Technology in the context of the Australian Social Media Ban and emerging European proposals:  the implications for children’s privacy and data protection rights.

[last updated May 25, 2026, 21:00] recent changes marked with icon

Legislation

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026

(70) 214A Power to require providers of internet services to prevent or restrict access by children to internet services https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/21/section/70/enacted
(71) Progress statement https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/21/section/71/enacted
(72) Age of consent in relation to processing of a child’s personal data: information society services (Article 8ZA Child’s consent in relation to information society services: age verification) https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/21/section/72/enacted

UK online safety consultation-specific responses and references: Growing up in the online world: A national consultation, and connected

[last updated May 25, 2026] recent changes marked with icon

Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (May 25, 2026) https://www.aomrc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Academy_Submission_DSIT_Growing_up_in_the_online_world_0526.pdf

Association of Directors of Children’s Services. (2026, March). Growing up in the online world: A national consultation [Briefing]. ADCS. https://www.adcs.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ADCS-briefing-on-Growing-Up-in-the-Online-World-2026.pdf

AVPA | Age Verification Providers Association. (2026, May). AVPA response to UK government consultation on social media (“Growing Up in the Online World”). AVPA. https://avpassociation.com/consultation-response/avpa-response-to-uk-government-consultation-on-social-media/

Bates Wells. (2026, March). UK government launches consultation asking for views on under-16s social media ban [Legal update]. Bates Wells. https://bateswells.co.uk/updates/legal-update-uk-government-launches-consultation-asking-for-views-on-under-16s-social-media-ban/

Bird & Bird. (2026). UK government children’s safety and AI chatbot powers — Two new Acts receive Royal Assent [Legal analysis; flags risk if Secretary of State regulations do not “have regard to” consultation responses]. Bird & Bird. https://www.twobirds.com/en/insights/2026/uk/uk-government-children’s-safety-and-ai-chatbot-powers-two-new-acts-receive-royal-assent

Childnet International. (2026, April). Growing up in the online world — A national conversation: Using the government consultation to help facilitate youth voice in schools [Blog post]. Childnet. https://www.childnet.com/blog/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-conversation-using-the-government-consultation-to-help-facilitate-youth-voice-in-schools/

Childnet International. (2026). Growing up in the online world — A national conversation: Resources for schools and youth settings [Resource page; child-friendly consultation question summary and survey]. Childnet. https://www.childnet.com/resources/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-conversation-resources-for-schools-and-youth-settings/

Cooley. (2026, March). Beyond the Online Safety Act: UK proposes sweeping social media ban and feature restrictions [Legal analysis]. Cooley. https://www.cooley.com/news/insight/2026/2026-03-04-beyond-the-online-safety-act-uk-proposes-sweeping-social-media-ban-and-feature-restrictions

Covington & Burling. (2026, March). UK government launches consultation on children’s online experiences, including new obligations for AI [Legal analysis]. Inside Privacy. https://www.insideprivacy.com/online-safety/uk-government-launches-consultation-on-childrens-online-experiences-including-new-obligations-for-ai/

Education Select Committee. (2026, May). Growing up in the online world: The Education Committee’s response to the Government’s consultation (First Report of Session 2025–26, HC 187). UK Parliament. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5902/cmselect/cmeduc/187/report.html

Electronic Frontier Foundation. (2026, May 5). EFF and 18 organizations urge UK policymakers to prioritize addressing the roots of online harm [Coalition letter — signatories include Mozilla, the Tor Project and Open Rights Group — warning that post-Children’s-Wellbeing-and-Schools-Act age-gating would force all users to verify identity and reshape the web; calls for tackling business models rather than access bans]. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/05/eff-and-18-organizations-urge-uk-policymakers-prioritize-addressing-roots-online

Gamers’ Voice. (2026, May 5). Joint statement on not placing internet services (including games) behind an age gate [Shannon, T.]. Gamers’ Voice. https://gamersvoice.org/joint-statement-on-not-placing-internet-services-inc-games-behind-an-age-gate/

House of Commons Library. (2026, April). Proposals to ban social media for children (Research Briefing No. CBP-10468) [Notes 45,000+ consultation responses received by 15 April]. UK Parliament. https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-10468/CBP-10468.pdf

INEQE Safeguarding Group. (2026, March). Growing up online: A guide to the UK government consultation [Advocates “sensible restrictions rather than outright bans”]. INEQE. https://ineqe.com/2026/03/06/growing-up-online-uk-government-consultation-2026/

KELSI. (2026). Growing up in the online world: A national consultation [News article signposting schools to respond]. Kent Education Services. https://www.kelsi.org.uk/news-and-events/news/primary/growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-consultation

Leicestershire Traded Services. (2026). Growing up in the online world: A national consultation [Article encouraging school-sector responses]. Leicestershire County Council. https://www.leicestershiretradedservices.org.uk/Article/185093

Mishcon de Reya. (2026, February). Will the proposed social media ban for under-16s work? An examination of the legal hurdles [Briefing]. Mishcon de Reya. https://www.mishcon.com/news/will-the-proposed-social-media-ban-for-under-16s-work-an-examination-of-the-legal-hurdles

Mishcon de Reya. (2026, March). The UK government opens its consultation for views on “Growing up in the online world: A national conversation” [Briefing on consultation scope, age assurance and VPN circumvention]. Mishcon de Reya. https://www.mishcon.com/news/the-uk-government-opens-its-consultation-for-views-on-growing-up-in-the-online-world-a-national-conversation

Molly Rose Foundation, NSPCC, 5Rights Foundation, & 39 other organisations. (2026, January 18). Joint statement on social media ban for under-16s [Opposes a blanket under-16 ban; calls for enforcing age 13, banning addictive design for teens, and compelling platforms to block harm]. Molly Rose Foundation. https://mollyrosefoundation.org/childrens-and-online-safety-campaigners-issue-joint-statement-on-social-media-ban-for-under-16s/

NSPCC. (2026). Government must stand up to big tech or under-16s social media ban is coming, warns NSPCC CEO [Sets out three actions it wants from the consultation; says a ban “would be better than nothing” only if government fails to act on design and accountability]. NSPCC. https://www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/news-opinion/2026/social-media-ban-three-actions/

Osborne Clarke. (2026, February). Regulatory Outlook February 2026: Digital regulation [Tracks government direction of travel, including the consultation]. Osborne Clarke. https://www.osborneclarke.com/insights/regulatory-outlook-february-2026-digital-regulation

Safer Schools NI (INEQE). (2026, March). Growing up online: A guide to the UK government consultation [Northern Ireland-facing guide]. Safer Schools NI. https://saferschoolsni.co.uk/growing-up-online-uk-government-consultation-2026/

Society for Computers & Law. (2026, May 15). Online safety consultation: Q&A with Rachael Bishop of DSIT [Event to inform members’ submissions]. SCL / Online Safety Lawyers’ Network. https://www.scl.org/events/event/online-safety-consultation-qa-with-rachael-bishop-of-dsit/

https://the3million.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/t3m-submission-DigitalIDConsultation-05May2026.pdf

Ofcom

Ofcom. (2024-25.). Age assurance duties under the Online Safety Act [Guidance hub]. Ofcom. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/age-assurance

Ofcom. (2025a, January 16). Age checks to protect children online [Press release; announces the age assurance enforcement programme]. Ofcom. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/age-checks-to-protect-children-online

Ofcom. (2025b, January 16). Statement: Age assurance and children’s access. Ofcom. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/statement-age-assurance-and-childrens-access

Ofcom. (2025c, January 16; updated 24 April 2025). Guidance on highly effective age assurance — for Part 3 services. Ofcom. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/consultations/category-1-10-weeks/statement-age-assurance-and-childrens-access/part-3-guidance-on-highly-effective-age-assurance.pdf

Ofcom. (2025d, January 16). Guidance for services publishing pornographic content (Part 5): Age assurance and record-keeping duties. Ofcom. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/statement-age-assurance-and-childrens-access

Ofcom. (2025e, April 24). Children’s access assessments guidance. Ofcom. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/statement-age-assurance-and-childrens-access

Ofcom. (2025f, April 24). Protection of Children Code of Practice for user-to-user services — Section 13: Age assurance (Volume 4, Statement: Protecting children from harms online). Ofcom. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/protecting-children/

Report references 

438 Signatories: Joint statement of security and privacy scientists and researchers on Age Assurance (March 2026) https://csa-scientist-open-letter.org/ageverif-Feb2026

5Rights Foundation. (2021). But how do they know it is a child? Age assurance in the digital world. 5Rights Foundation. https://5rightsfoundation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/But_How_Do_They_Know_It_is_a_Child-1.pdf

Abelson, H., Anderson, R., Bellovin, S. M., Benaloh, J., Blaze, M., Callas, J., Diffie, W., Landau, S., Neumann, P. G., Rivest, R. L., Schiller, J. I., Schneier, B., Teague, V., & Troncoso, C. (2021). Bugs in our pockets: The risks of client-side scanning. arXiv:2110.07450v1

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