Online safety for children is a growing topic of discussion across the charity communications sector. Following recent guidance from National Crime Agency (NCA) and Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) around the use of children’s images online, many organisations are reviewing their approach to imagery and digital safeguarding.
Here’s a couple of resources that may be useful:
National Crime Agency (NCA) and Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
NCA and IWF have published joint guidance to help parents, carers and organisations understand the risks of AI-enabled image abuse, review image-sharing practices, and support conversations with children and young people about consent and online safety.
The Parents and carers guide provides practical steps to protect children from AI image abuse.
Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
The IWF provides a wide range of online safety resources and advice for young people, parents/carers and professionals to help protect children online.
You can anonymously report suspected child sexual abuse images or videos.
UK Safer Internet Centre
Guidance on protecting images from AI manipulation and abuse, including practical advice and a checklist of actions for organisations and education settings.
This step-by-step guide on removing EXIF metadata before sharing images publicly helps prevent personal information such as dates, times and locations from being shared online.
NSPCC
The NSPCC provides practical guidance on photographing, filming and sharing children’s images safely, including an example photography policy and advice on managing AI-related risks.
UNICEF
UNICEF shares guidance on using children’s images and stories ethically, with advice on consent, representation, privacy and safeguarding children’s rights.
Look at this eight step summary to ethical imagery, including informed consent, avoiding harmful stereotypes and more.
Share your learning
This is a rapidly developing area, and charities are having to adapt their policies and practices. If your organisation has developed useful approaches or you’ve come across other helpful guidance or resources, we’d love to hear from you.
Please get in touch by emailing comms@charitycomms.org.uk to share your experiences. We’ll continue to update this page with useful resources and learning to support the sector.
