How is the use of Age Assurance technologies for the child online safety sector likely to change over the next 5 and 10 years?
Background
Although there is already material evidence on the types of serious harms individuals encounter online, there still remain a number of emerging harms, where the evidence base is still yet to mature (e.g. epilepsy trolling, online animal abuse). SOH would like to close this significant gap in understanding the impact of encountering different types of serious harms online and understanding the best approaches to measuring the impact of the Online Safety legislation.
SOH highlights the importance of Media Literacy in the digital age and asks for further studies to uncover barriers to engagement as well as the effectiveness of DSIT programmes. This issue closely relates to Counter-Disinformation interventions, which requires evidence for its effect on bystanders, topic specific disinformation and what tools can be used to combat this issue.
Research on Safety Technology would greatly develop SOH’s understanding of the relationship that DSIT online safety objectives have with the technology market today. A primary focus lands on improving Age Assurance (AA) measures. This includes ensuring transparency and assessing opportunities for the sector.
Next steps
If you are keen to register your interest in working and connecting with DSIT Digital Technology and Telecoms Group and/or submitting evidence, then please complete the DSIT-ARI Evidence survey - https://dsit.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cDfmK2OukVAnirs.
Please view full details: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology-areas-of-research-interest/dsit-areas-of-research-interest-2024
Source
This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:
Related UKRI funded projects
-
PrivacyEye: Controlling Harmful Multimedia Sharing Among Children
The increasing use of electronic devices and online applications among children in the UK has raised significant concerns about their online safety. Nearly 90% of children aged 0-18 go online daily, with those aged 5-15 ...
Funded by: Innovate UK
Lead research organisation: DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY
Why might this be relevant?
Partially relevant as it addresses harmful multimedia sharing among children but not specifically on Age Assurance technologies.
-
Supporting the use of digital media in research with children and young people
This project will create an online resource about using digital media in research with children and young people. The resource will give guidance and support to researchers who wish to use digital media in their work. It...
Funded by: ESRC
Lead research organisation: University of Edinburgh
Why might this be relevant?
While the project does not directly address Age Assurance technologies, it provides insights on using digital media in research with children, which is related to child online safety.
-
HORIZON-MSCA-2023-SE-01
Digital technologies have become an important part of children's daily lives, regardless of cultural and geographical context. This is often due to the actions of parents who notoriously share information about their chi...
Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee
Lead research organisation: The Polish University Abroad (PUNO)
Why might this be relevant?
Partially relevant as it focuses on sharenting and children's online privacy, but not specifically on Age Assurance technologies.