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RTÉ News
20-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Expert warns parents over AI deepfakes of children
Only 20 images of a child are needed to create a deepfake video of them, a leading expert in cybersecurity has warned. The study, conducted by Perspectus Global, focused on 2,000 parents with children under the age of 16 in the UK, and showed that parents upload an average of 63 images to social media every month. Over half of these photos include family photos (59%), with one in five parents (21%) uploading these types of images multiple times a week. Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, CEO of Mick Moran, said that as AI gets stronger, the 20 images required to create the videos will be reduced to only one. "The big worry is that these AI models will be used to create CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) and children involved in sex acts," he said. "We've already seen in the past, innocent images that kids themselves are posting, or their parents are posting, being used in advertising pornography sites. "In this case however, giving a certain data set of images, 20 of them, will allow you to produce a non-limited amount in any scenario of that child." Mr Moran explained that the risk of CSAM is only one aspect of the issue, and the deep-fake videos could also be used for fraud or for scams. "You have to be aware that your data is being used to train these models and fundamentally, any information you share online can be used in ways you never intended." He said that if images are being shared publicly, the expectation of privacy is "gone," adding that some companies see uploaded material as under "implicit consent." "If you're an adult and you share a picture... it attracts different rules under data protection. However, if you're a parent and you share a picture of your child or another child, it is deemed to be implicit consent from the parent that transfers to the child, and therefore they can use the image." Parents urged to limit social media privacy settings Mr Moran said that there is "no problem" in sharing images online, as long as the audience who can view it is limited through social media privacy settings. He called on the Government to bring in legislation to make it illegal to possess or to make an engine which trains AI to produce CSAM. "CSAM and child pornography are illegal under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act of 1998, so it's illegal to possess it, whether it's made by AI or not," he said. "What I'd be calling on the Government to do here would be to make it illegal to possess, make an engine, or to train an AI engine that will produce CSAM - that's not illegal. "What you put into it might be illegal, what comes out of it might be illegal, but the act of doing it is not necessarily illegal," he added.
Irish Independent
14-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Criminals need just 20 images of one child to produce deep fake, cyber experts say
Parents who share pictures of their children online have been warned that these images could expose them to serious risks and long-term problems, such as identity theft and fraud. Other risks include extortion or exploitation, allowing cyber criminals to create bank accounts and claim benefits in their name. A new research of 2,000 parents with children under 16 in the UK, conducted by Perspectus Global and commissioned by Proton, showed that parents upload an average of 63 photos to social media every month. The majority of these photos – 59pc – include family photos, with one in five parents – 21pc – uploading such pictures multiple times a week, while two in five – 38pc – several times a month. Professor Carsten Maple from the University of Warwick in England and the Alan Turing Institute warned that parents are "unwittingly opening their children up to possible exploitation by criminals who want to use their data for their own purposes". 'It takes just 20 images for sophisticated AI tools to create a realistic profile of someone, or even a 30-second video," he said. 'But it's not just images that can be used, social media posts also reveal sensitive information such as location data and key life moments, that can effectively be used to create an online profile for children long before they're old enough to consent to it. 'Oversharing by parents can lead to numerous problems for the child in the future, including digital records that can be extremely difficult and painful to remove, leading to mental anguish, negative reputations and harm to others," he added. Professor Maple also warned that 'it's not just criminal gangs who can use the data', as Big Tech companies also use images posted on their platforms for their own agendas. It comes as only a few months ago, Instagram changed its user agreement to allow it to use people's images to train its AI. ADVERTISEMENT The professor added that many cloud storage services, such as Google Drive and Photos, use personal information in ways that many parents are unaware of. More than half – 56pc – of respondents said their family photos are uploaded to cloud storage, with an estimated 185 photos of their children on their phone and cloud. When asked what information they think tech companies can access, almost half – 48pc – did not know that data from pictures stored on a cloud can be accessed and used by the companies that hold them. Parents have been advised to think about what they are sharing; ensure their personal moments are held using secure storage; read the small print and set their privacy and security settings; be aware of phishing scams; and be aware of free public wi-fi. They have also been asked to set clear ground rules with their children; use parental controls, filters in search engines, antivirus software; and model healthy online habits.
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
British teens don't know how to save money and their parents are paying the price
New data has revealed that teens are falling short when it comes to financial comprehension. As a result, parents are taking responsibility for their teens' financial wellbeing A new survey conducted by Perspectus Global reveals that British teens are not saving their money. While that statement alone may not be surprising to some, the survey also shows that British teens do not just fail to save money, they don't know a whole host of personal finance basics, including the lingo. One reason Gen Alpha may not feel pressure to take charge of their financial future could be that their parents are committed to planning it for them. The survey of 1,000 British parents of teens revealed they are saving money on their children's behalf and, relatedly, do not feel confident about their children's ability to save for themselves. The data found that one in five surveyed teens did not know what the term 'inheritance' meant while others were unfamiliar with the terms ISA (Individual Savings Account) and national insurance. The survey focuses on the buzzy new consumer group termed Generation Alpha - individuals born after 2010. The research commissioned by Moneyfarm surveyed 1,000 British teens aged between 13 and 19 as well as 1,000 British parents. The March 2025 report found that 14% of British teens did not have any savings, including anything in a bank account or a pre-paid debit card. A whopping 84% of parents said that their child would have access to money that they saved for them when they turned 18 - with the average amount being £23,000. While certainly a significant figure, parents saving money for their children is not a new phenomenon and nearly a quarter (24%) of surveyed teens said that they would use a large gift of money at 18 to fund their university education. Of the 1,000 teens surveyed, 35% also admitted that any money they did receive, they spent immediately. While this held true for all genders, the survey did find that what teens spent their money on differed between boys and girls. Most of the surveyed boys were likely to spend money on gaming, whereas the majority of girls said they spent their money on clothing purchases and beauty. Other big spending categories for teens include takeaways, nights out, skincare and music. Though Gen Alpha's savings apathy may not be all that surprising when compared to their predecessors. Gen Z has faced its fair share of financial shaming, accused most recently of 'doomspending'. According to Fortune, Gen Z is dealing with the seemingly insurmountable financial odds against them by spending money on travel and short-term goods. It should also be noted that while teens may lack financial literacy, they have a desire to grow their knowledge and confidence. While over a third of surveyed teens admit they don't feel confident about managing their money in the future, 32% said they would love to learn. And for their part, parents are making a conscious effort to educate their teens, with 82% saying they are consciously trying to teach their children about managing finances. While the world of finances can be daunting, saving money can start small. Opening up a cash ISA and savings account can open up a wealth of cost-savings schemes. Martin Lewis recently explained that by opening any Santander savings account or cash ISA, people aged 16-25 could be eligible for a free four-year railcard worth £100. According to Lewis, by paying at least £50 by May 31, 2025 and keeping it in your account for at least a month you'll be sent a code to redeem your railcard. That said, it is up to more than parents and teens to prioritise financial education. In March, Conservative MP Peter Bedford brought forward a motion in Parliament to introduce a bill to make provisions around financial education in primary schools and tertiary education. Speaking in Parliament on the issue, Bedford said: "Schools should prepare young people for the adult world. Yet for all the focus on balancing an equation, there is no attention given to balancing one's bank are sending our young people out into the world and putting them into the game of life without even teaching them the rules first."
Khaleej Times
19-03-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
UAE survey: 51% children approached by strangers online
A new study has revealed that more than half of children have been regularly contacted online by someone they don't know and nearly 40 per cent have been exposed to harmful online content, including explicit or violent material. The research done by mobile manufacturing company Human Mobile Devices (HMD) and Perspectus Global, surveyed over 25,000 children and parents in six countries including the UAE. The figures also revealed that one in three children has been asked to take conversations to private messaging apps, and 56 per cent of them reported being insulted or made to feel small online. 'The overall feedback we got was that we are often overprotective of our children in the offline world but are under-protective when they are venturing into the online world,' said Sanmeet Singh Kochhar, Vice President of HMD Global in the AMEA Region. 'This could expose them to the dangers of the online environmen t. So there is an urgent need from parents specifically, to have a guided entrance into the digital world for children.' 'Not surprising' According to Dubai-based educator Hanan Ezzeldin, the figures were not surprising. 'As someone who coaches parents on social media dangers, I have seen my fair share of shocking incidents,' she said. 'In one case I came across, a 13-year-old boy in Dubai had befriended a 19-year-old boy based in Abu Dhabi and asked his parents to meet his new 'friend'. The parents reviewed the messages between them and something didn't feel right. With some investigation they found the that 19-year-old boy was in fact a 40-year-old man who had been speaking to multiple children.' Ezzeldin added that parents must put in place strict rules to keep their children safe online. 'It is absolutely essential that all their social media accounts are set to private,' she said. 'We must also teach them not to chat with unknown people on social media. There are many paedophiles who target youngsters who like and engage with posts of celebrities. Also, parents should make it a practice to ask for consent before posting their children's photos on social media and having proper conversations with them to inculcate good digital media hygiene.' Omer Tariq, CEO of mental health platform Helply, said it was essential for parents to put in place controls when giving their children a device. 'Giving unrestricted phone access to a youngster is like handing them the keys to a world they're not fully prepared for. There's just too much out there—some of it useful, but a lot of it harmful,' he said. He added that children are more likely to develop social media addiction and not understand the risk of privacy. 'Kids can spend hours glued to their phones, affecting their sleep, studies, and even their ability to interact with people in real life,' he said. 'They also don't always understand the risks of sharing personal details online. Whether it's talking to strangers, falling for scams, or unknowingly giving away sensitive information, the dangers are real.' Better phone project HMD is currently preparing to launch a phone built as a 'first step' into the digital world, which they claim is designed to give teens independence while ensuring parents have the controls they need. The Better Phone Project will have parental controls, social media and browser restrictions, GPS tracking and focus mode among other features. The company's research also found that the average age for a child's first smartphone is 11 and that 54 percent of parents regret giving their child a smartphone too soon. 'We spoke to over 12,000 parents and we worked with them to design a solution,' said Sanmeet. 'After nearly a year of research and different focus groups, studies involving families from 87 countries, we developed the HMD Fusion X1. Our goal is to create a technology that grows with the child. So, for example, there could be certain controls for children who are between the ages of 6 and 9. As they grow, we can give them more access. So the technology is then growing with the child, teaching them responsible digital habits.'
Gulf Today
15-03-2025
- Gulf Today
556m children could be at risk of being contacted by strangers online: Research
More than half of children have been regularly contacted online by someone they don't know, new research from HMD and Perspectus Global has revealed.1 One in three children has been asked to take conversations to private messaging apps, and nearly 40% have been exposed to harmful online content, including explicit or violent material. The results have emerged from a global survey of 25,000 children and adults in the UK, US, Germany, India, Australia and UAE. When the figure is extrapolated and combined with the latest UN Global population data, it is estimated some 556 million children could be at risk of being contacted by strangers online through their smartphones. These findings highlight an urgent need for change. For too long, parents have faced a difficult choice: either hand their kids a fully-fledged adult smartphone—with all the risks of unrestricted internet, social media pressure, and digital addiction—or keep them disconnected entirely. It's clear that we need a better way forward. That's why HMD is introducing a new category of phones designed with parents for a younger audience. The first of these, the HMD Fusion X1, will debut at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona—a phone built as a 'first step' into the digital world, designed to give teens independence while ensuring parents have the controls they need for peace of mind. Sanmeet Singh Kochhar, Vice President of HMD Global in the AMEA Region said: "At HMD, we recognise that digital safety is a growing concern for parents and children alike. Our commitment goes beyond just selling phones—we are investing in safer digital experiences that align with the values of families worldwide. The launch of the HMD Fusion X1 is part of our vision to provide secure, responsible technology that empowers children while giving parents peace of mind. The findings from our global study reinforce the urgent need for change, and we are proud to take the lead in shaping a safer digital future." For nearly a year, HMD has worked with thousands of parents through The Better Phone Project, developing real solutions for families. Research found that the average age for a child's first smartphone is 11, yet 54% of parents regret giving their child a smartphone too soon. Concerns include reduced physical activity, poor sleep, and increased exposure to online risks. Now, after engaging with parents and teens across 84 countries, HMD is launching two new devices in 2025, starting with the HMD Fusion X1 – a phone that helps kids build healthy digital habits while keeping them safe online. The UAE-specific research reflects broader global trends. A recent international study of nearly 25,000 parents and children revealed: 51% of children worldwide have been contacted online by strangers. One in three has been encouraged to take conversations to private messaging apps. 56% of kids report being insulted or made to feel small online. 40% have been exposed to harmful explicit or violent content. 52% of children feel addicted to their screens. While regulations are tightening worldwide, including in the UAE, parental control solutions remain critical. HMD is responding by creating safer, smarter technology tailored to families' needs.
