BBS:      TELESC.NET.BR
Assunto:  58% of Brits faced significant online risk in 2025
De:       Mike Powell
Data:     Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:17:36 -0500
-----------------------------------------------------------
58% of Brits faced significant online risk in 2025 - increased AI usage is
reducing digital trust

By Sead Fadilpa?i? published 7 hours ago

Fraud and cyberbullying seem to be the biggest issues

In 2025, most citizens in the UK experienced at least one major cybersecurity
risk, with fraud and cyberbullying being some of the most prevalent types of
online risks these days. This is according to Microsoft's Global Online
Safety Survey 2026 (UK edition), which was published in the country on Safer
Internet Day 2026 (February 10).

Based on a survey of nearly 15,000 teens (13-17) and adults, conducted over the
summer and across 15 countries, Microsoft found that 58% of UK respondents
experienced "at least one significant online risk" last year.

Teens are taking initiative

While teens are mostly worried about cyberbullying (38%), older generations
(Gen X and Baby Boomers) are primarily concerned with fraud.

At the center of this sharp increase is - you guessed it - Generative
Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). Nowadays, 28% of UK respondents use it weekly,
up from 9% just three years ago, and thus they understand its impact.

Therefore, many are afraid that cybercriminals can use AI to supercharge scams
(84%), deepfakes (84%), and data privacy fraud (83%). At the same time, they
are having an increasingly hard time spotting AI-generated content. Confidence
in identifying deepfakes has sunk to a historic low of just 19%.

But there is good news, too. Almost three quarters (72%) of UK teens who
experienced online harm talked to someone about it, and two-thirds (69%) took
action, either by blocking people, or closing their accounts.

"Year on year, the research has told a story of evolving online safety risks
and of the real-world impact," Microsoft said in its report. "In 2026, the
call to action is more urgent than ever-unless industry can deliver safe and
age-appropriate experiences, young people risk losing access to technology."

To tackle the problem, Microsoft said it was doubling down on
"safety-by-design", expanding its Family Safety tools, facilitating
youth-led AI research initiatives, and promoting its new digital literacy
resources.


https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/58-percent-of-brits-faced-significant-on
line-risk-in-2025-increased-ai-usage-is-reducing-digital-trust

$$
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
 * Origin: Capitol City Online (1:2320/105)

-----------------------------------------------------------
[Voltar]