Threats posed to schoolchildren by AI-generated 'deep fakes' and cyber bullying are set to come under the spotlight with the establishment of a new council task group.

Cheshire West and Chester's People Overview and Scrutiny Committee is expected to rubber-stamp creation of a temporary body to look at the implementation of tighter new Government online safety rules.

The Online Safety Act was established in 2023 but came into force this year.

It places tougher responsibilities on tech companies to ensure children and young people are spared harm online.

Its requirements include:

• Remove illegal content such as child sexual abuse material, terrorism-related content, and content promoting suicide or self-harm
• Prevent children from accessing harmful or age-inappropriate content, including pornography, bullying, and content promoting eating disorders
• Conduct regular risk assessments and publish summaries of these assessments to ensure transparency
• Implement age assurance tools to enforce minimum age requirements and restrict access to harmful content
• Provide clear reporting mechanisms for users to flag inappropriate or dangerous content

A report to the committee said that as the act moves into full enforcement, schools across the country, including those in Cheshire West and Chester, are facing 'increased expectations' to align their safeguarding practices with the new legal framework.

It warned that although tech companies were under the spotlight, the responsibility for safeguarding under the new regulations remained with schools themselves.

It said: "New risks such as AI-generated deep fakes, sophisticated phishing scams, and evasive online platforms require schools to adopt more advanced monitoring tools and staff training."

It also warned schools may be subject to increased scrutiny from media watchdog Ofcom and local authorities, adding: "Non-compliance with safeguarding standards could result in reputational damage or intervention."

This evening (November 26), the committee is expected to approve setting up a 'task and finish group'.

Usually composed of councillors, council officers and external experts and community representatives, the temporary body is designed to look at how the act is implemented across the borough, spot gaps and make recommendations. 

The scrutiny committee itself will then look at their progress in six months. 

The report concluded: "This review will help ensure that children and young people are protected from online harm, that schools are supported in their safeguarding roles, and that enforcement of the Online Safety Act is robust and locally responsive.

"It will also promote public confidence in digital safety and the borough's commitment to child protection."

The act itself has been the source of intense debate, with backers saying it protects children from harm and exploitation but opponents claim it is unnecessary censorship, and that personal verification data collected from people wanting to use certain platforms will be at risk from hackers.