The head of the Irish Internet Hotline says parents cannot fully protect children from online predators, according to commentary citing broader European concerns. Drawing on input from Irish experts and the Council of Europe, the remarks come as authorities report a rise in harmful content, including material generated using artificial intelligence.
The sources say the growing availability of AI-generated abuse content creates additional challenges for families and online safety efforts, because such material can be produced and shared quickly and at scale. While parents can take steps such as monitoring internet use and using safety tools, the hotline chief argues that individual action is not enough to stop all grooming, exploitation, or the circulation of abusive images and videos.
All sources call for tougher measures beyond household-level controls. These include stronger responses from platforms and clearer, more effective approaches from policymakers and law enforcement to prevent the spread of illegal or harmful content and improve detection and removal. The message is that protecting children online requires coordinated action involving both technical safeguards and enforcement.
