RESEARCH ABOUT THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN ONLINE

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

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Disrupting Harm in Online Spaces: Global Solutions to Protect Children

OECD

About the Research

This paper examines how governments, regulators, and digital platforms around the world are responding to the challenge of protecting children in online spaces. Rather than focusing on individual harms or incidents, it looks at the systemic and policy-level solutions that are being developed to make the digital environment safer by design.

A central concern of the report is that children now participate in online spaces that are global, fast-moving, and largely shaped by private platforms. Traditional, nationally bounded approaches to regulation are often insufficient in this context. The paper therefore explores how international cooperation and shared standards are becoming essential to effective child protection online.

The OECD analyses a range of approaches adopted across member and partner countries, including platform governance models, regulatory frameworks, and co-regulatory arrangements between governments and industry. Particular attention is given to the concept of “safety by design”, where risks to children are addressed at the level of product design, algorithms, and default settings, rather than relying solely on after-the-fact moderation or user reporting.

The report also discusses the growing expectation that online platforms take greater responsibility for assessing and mitigating risks to children, while still respecting fundamental rights such as privacy and freedom of expression. It highlights emerging practices such as risk assessments, transparency reporting, and evidence-based policy evaluation.

Importantly, the tone of the paper is constructive and forward-looking. It recognises that no single actor can solve these challenges alone. Effective protection depends on collaboration between governments, technology companies, civil society, and researchers, supported by reliable data and shared learning across borders.

Overall, Disrupting Harm in Online Spaces presents a clear picture of a global shift: from reactive responses to online harm, toward coordinated, preventative, and design-led strategies that aim to make digital environments safer for children as a matter of structure, not chance.

https://www.oecd.org/digital/disrupting-harm-in-online-spaces.htm

Protecting Children Online: Global Challenges and Strategies

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

About the Research

This paper provides a global overview of how countries and institutions are responding to the challenge of protecting children in an increasingly connected digital world. Produced by the United Nations’ specialised agency for information and communication technologies, the report approaches child online safety as a shared international responsibility, shaped by technology, policy, education, and cooperation.

The paper begins by outlining the scale and complexity of the digital environment children now inhabit. With rapid growth in internet access, mobile devices, and online services, children are engaging with digital spaces earlier and more extensively than ever before. The report emphasises that while this connectivity brings educational and social benefits, it also requires coordinated strategies to ensure children are supported and protected.

A central focus of the paper is the development of national child online protection frameworks. It examines how governments across different regions are creating policies that combine legislation, awareness programmes, technical safeguards, and partnerships with industry. Rather than prescribing a single model, the report highlights adaptable strategies that reflect varying cultural, legal, and economic contexts.

The ITU places strong emphasis on capacity building and inclusion, particularly for low- and middle-income countries. It recognises that effective protection depends not only on laws and technology, but also on education, digital literacy, and institutional capability. The paper documents initiatives aimed at strengthening national readiness through training, shared resources, and international guidance.

Another key theme is collaboration. The report stresses that protecting children online cannot be achieved by governments alone. Meaningful progress relies on cooperation between public authorities, technology companies, educators, parents, and international organisations. Public–private partnerships and shared standards are presented as essential tools for addressing cross-border digital challenges.

Overall, Protecting Children Online: Global Challenges and Strategies presents a balanced and practical account of global efforts to create safer digital environments. It frames child online protection as an evolving, collective endeavour—grounded in cooperation, informed policy, and a commitment to ensuring that children can benefit from digital technology safely and responsibly.

https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Cybersecurity/Pages/Child-Online-Protection.aspx

Global Threat Assessment 2023: Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

WeProtect Global Alliance

About the Research

This paper provides a comprehensive global overview of how countries, technology companies, law enforcement agencies, and civil society organisations are working together to protect children online.

Rather than focusing on individual cases or distressing incidents, the Global Threat Assessment examines the systems, policies, and capabilities that exist worldwide to prevent and respond to online harm involving children. It brings together evidence from governments, international organisations, technology platforms, and frontline practitioners to assess how effective current approaches are, and where further coordination is needed.

A central theme of the report is that online child protection is no longer the responsibility of any single group. The paper documents how international cooperation has increased in recent years, with shared standards, joint investigations, improved reporting mechanisms, and greater use of technology to detect and disrupt harmful activity. It also highlights the growing role of prevention, education, and early intervention, alongside enforcement.

The report compares progress across regions, showing that while some countries have well-developed frameworks in place, others face challenges related to resources, technical capacity, or legal alignment. Importantly, it frames these gaps as opportunities for collective action, capacity building, and knowledge sharing rather than failure.

Throughout the paper, the emphasis remains practical and forward-looking. It identifies what is already working, where collaboration has delivered measurable improvements, and what steps can strengthen global protection efforts further. The tone is analytical and solution-oriented, making it suitable for policymakers, educators, organisations, and the public alike.

Overall, the Global Threat Assessment presents a clear picture of a world that is actively responding to the challenge of keeping children safe online—through cooperation, innovation, and shared responsibility.

https://www.weprotect.org/global-threat-assessment-2023/