doc__table__4

| 2. | There is, however, wide consensus among policy makers, regulatory authorities, civil society, researchers, educators and guardians (2) that the current level of privacy, safety and security online of minors is often inadequate. The design and features of the wide variety of online platforms and the services offered by providers of online platforms accessible to minors may create risks to minors’ privacy, safety and security and exacerbate existing risks. These risks include, for example, exposure to illegal content (3) and harmful content, that undermines minors’ privacy, safety and security or that may impair the physical or mental development of minors. They also include cyberbullying or contact from individuals seeking to harm minors, such as those seeking to sexually abuse or extort minors, human traffickers and those seeking to recruit minors into criminal gangs or promote violence, radicalisation, violent extremism and terrorism. Minors may also face risks as consumers as well as risks related to extensive use or overuse of online platforms and exposure to inappropriate or exploitative practices, including in relation to gambling and gaming. The increasing integration of artificial intelligence (‘AI’) chatbots and companions into online platforms as well as AI driven deep fakes may also affect how minors interact with online platforms, exacerbate existing risks, and pose new ones that can negatively affect a minor’s privacy, safety and security (4). These risks can originate from the direct experience of the minor with the platform and/or from the actions of other users on the platform.

← doc__table__3 · All articles · doc__table__5 →

Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-09-07 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.