Online child safety: Australian envoy urges stronger regulations

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Punjab Assembly speaker calls for stronger safeguards, effective regulation, closer cooperation

The growing use of social media and artificial intelligence (AI) is increasing the risks faced by children, prompting calls for stronger digital safety measures, better resources and coordinated action by governments and technology companies.

Speaking at a national seminar in Islamabad, Australian High Commissioner Timothy Kane and Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan stressed the need to create a safer digital environment for young people.

High Commissioner Kane said effective measures and adequate resources were essential to protect young people from online threats.

He emphasised the need to strengthen cooperation among relevant institutions to improve online safety and ensure that children can use digital platforms in a safer environment.

Kane said creating a secure digital space for young people was crucial as technology continued to shape their daily lives.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Khan, addressing the national seminar, said the misuse of online platforms required serious attention. He stressed that clear boundaries and regulations were necessary for the use of artificial intelligence and digital platforms, calling for serious deliberation and effective measures to address emerging online challenges.

He also said technology companies and the government must work together to tackle online safety concerns and protect children from digital threats.

Referring to the country’s current political climate, he observed that Pakistan was witnessing considerable political heat, while emphasising the importance of defining clear limits and rules for digital platforms.

The seminar highlighted concerns about the rapidly growing use of social media and artificial intelligence and the potential dangers these technologies pose to children.

Participants stressed that the risks associated with online platforms required serious consideration and practical responses rather than being treated as a secondary concern.

The impact of digital platforms is increasingly visible in both rural and urban communities, making online safety a concern that extends beyond major cities.

Speakers emphasised that governments and technology companies must work jointly to develop solutions to online safety challenges.

They called for stronger institutional cooperation, appropriate regulation and effective safeguards to address the threats children face while using social media and AI-powered services.

The central message of the seminar was that protecting children in an increasingly digital world requires coordinated action, adequate resources and sustained attention from both public institutions and the technology industry.

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