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Government seeks views on digital childhood

Lawyers have until 26 May to share their views on the best way to protect children from harm online

The government’s consultation, ‘A safer digital childhood’, covers a potential social media age ban, curfews, the risks of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, gaming and other factors affecting digital wellbeing.

Jamie Hurworth, senior associate at Payne Hicks Beach, said the Online Safety Act 2023 left gaps ‘especially around AI and immersive platforms’ but warned against an outright ban on social media, which ‘could simply push young people into unregulated spaces and thwart effective age verification’.

Have your say here

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NEWS
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

How forcefully can a litigant criticise a public authority before robust advocacy crosses the line into unreasonable conduct? 
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