What emerging and external factors present a risk to the sector’s ability to develop effective solutions? What are the risks around Age Assurance technology and how might they be mitigated? 

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:

DSIT Areas of Research Interest 2024 GOV UK

Related UKRI funded projects


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    Funded by: AHRC

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    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on Media Literacy and Digital Skills, which are crucial in understanding and mitigating risks related to Age Assurance technology.

  • Safe Internet surfing with an intelligent child-centred shield against harmful content

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    Funded by: Innovate UK

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    Why might this be relevant?

    The project addresses child safety online, which is related to risks around Age Assurance technology, but does not specifically focus on Age Assurance technology.

  • Bootstrap

    BACKGROUND: Adolescents are at particularly high risk for digital technology overuse, including in response to the COVID pandemic, and are therefore vulnerable for its potential harmful effects on mental health. Problema...

    Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee

    Lead research organisation: EURO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH C.I.C.

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on digital technology overuse and mental health in adolescents, which is related to the broader context of online safety but does not directly address risks around Age Assurance technology.

  • 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...

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    Project summary BACKGROUND: Adolescents are at particularly high risk for digital technology overuse, including in response to the COVID pandemic, and are therefore vulnerable for its potential harmful effects on mental ...

    Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee

    Lead research organisation: UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE

  • How Much is Too Much? Leveraging Existing and Emerging Large-Scale Social Data to Build Robust Evidence-Based Policy for Children in the Digital Age

    The amount of time British children and adolescents spend on digital technologies has more than doubled in the past decade, and debates about the possible impact of excessive screen use are prominent in the scientific an...

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    Funded by: SPF

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