Online Child Safety: Australian High Commissioner and Punjab Assembly Speaker Call for Stronger Digital Safeguards

Australian High Commissioner Timothy Kane and Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan have called for stronger digital safety measures, better resources and coordinated action by governments and technology companies to protect children online. They were speaking at a national seminar in Islamabad, which highlighted that the growing use of social media and artificial intelligence (AI) is increasing the risks children face.

High Commissioner’s Message

Kane said effective measures and adequate resources are essential to protect young people from online threats. He stressed the need to strengthen cooperation among relevant institutions so that children can use digital platforms in a safer environment, and said creating a secure digital space is crucial as technology continues to shape young people’s daily lives.

Speaker Calls for Clear Rules

Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan said the misuse of online platforms requires serious attention. He stressed that clear boundaries and regulations are necessary for the use of AI and digital platforms, and that technology companies and the government must work together to protect children from digital threats.

Key Takeaways From the Seminar

• Participants said the risks of online platforms need practical responses and should not be treated as a secondary concern.

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

• Speakers called for stronger institutional cooperation, appropriate regulation and effective safeguards for children using social media and AI-powered services.

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