Safer Internet Day 2026
Today marks Safer Internet Day 2026, a day for celebration, discussions, and lessons, surrounding this year’s theme of ‘Smart tech, safe choices – Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI’. AI has led to a whole new set of challenges when staying safe online. For this reason, this day is more important than ever.
As technology evolves, so do threats of violence against women and girls. Studies have shown that 9 out of 10 online deepfakes depict women, the majority of which are non-consensual pornographic images. AI allows for faster, easier, and less-easily detectable graphic images to be produced of anyone.
In 2023, the UK Government passed the Online Safety Act with the aim of protecting users from harmful content. This bill is in the process of implementation, a step in the right direction towards online safety, but the threats women and girls face demand further action.
Calls have been made for harsher sentencing for cybercrimes, in recognition of the increasing difficulty for individuals to protect themselves online, as well as specific legislation addressing the use of AI in the challenges it presents.
Through SWC consultation, we know that women are concerned about the threat of AI and the rise of a new form of violence against women:
“AI could be a nightmare. We need to get the balance right and ensure we retain our critical faculties when dealing with it. Women’s safety is at particular risk from the fact that anyone can steal your image from anywhere on the internet and turn it into a sexually explicit video that humiliates and ruins your life. We need legislation to deal with this urgently.” (SWC Programme for Government Survey July 2025).
The Scottish Government have said to be continually reviewing the law surrounding deepfakes and considering the necessity of specific legislations surrounding the use of AI, whilst Police Scotland are cracking down on the problem, announcing a partnership with Abertay University to improve training and technology for detecting AI generated images.
The Scottish Women’s Convention demands that Scotland gets ahead of the problem through regulation, awareness, and legislation, to protect women and girls against forms of violence both on and offline.
To learn more or access support, check out our resources guide below.
Resources Guide
Top Tips for parents and carers - UK Safer Internet Centre
Top Tips for young people - UK Safer Internet Centre
Support for dealing with deepfakes - Scottish Women’s Rights Centre
Revenge Porn Helpline
Advice for adults - Citizens Advice Scotland
References
