As global policymakers grapple with the urgent question of how best to safeguard minors in online environments, a new project from the Oxford Programme for Cyber and Technology Policy launched today aims to address these challenges in partnership with the Oxford Internet Institute.

Recent efforts – such as Senate Bill 243 in the United States, extensions to the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act, and a number of initiatives at EU level – reflect growing momentum around child online safety. Yet there is little consensus on what is most effective without stifling innovation, infringing personal freedoms or reducing the educational benefits of technology for children. Made possible by a grant from the MacArthur Foundation, the new project will address the growing gap between rapid technological advancement – including emerging concerns about children’s interactions with AI chatbots – and the preparedness of governments worldwide.

The project will include the development of a pilot tracker, modelled on the Blavatnik School’s COVID-19 tracker, to evaluate the effectiveness of global policy interventions.

Led by Ciaran Martin, Professor of Practice and founding Chief Executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, Dr Vicki Nash, Associate Professor and Senior Policy Fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute, and Dr Brianna Rosen, Executive Director of the Oxford Programme for Cyber and Technology Policy, the initiative will translate multidisciplinary research into actionable insights for governments. By mapping real-world trade-offs, the project seeks to foster a sustainable international network of practitioners capable of navigating evolving digital challenges.

Brianna said:

"Policy responses to online harms are often reactive and quickly overtaken by technological change. As AI chatbots and other digital tools become more embedded in children's daily lives, the challenge has grown more urgent. This project responds by creating a living, global repository of what works–continuously updated and stress-tested in real-world settings."

Vicki added:

“With governments facing increasing pressure from parents who feel powerless to keep their children safe online, this project couldn’t be starting at a better moment. We sorely need evidence-based advice, not just on the most effective measures but also how to maintain a balance between safety and digital exclusion.”