Is the internet getting safer? With Cosima Wiltshire and James Smith

Two years ago, in episode #64 of The Green Room, we asked the question 'How do we stay safe online?' Since then, progress has been made. Businesses, tech leaders, governments and wider society have taken the time to understand the 'how' and have moved on to the 'do'. Some countries have started taking steps to ban under-16s from all major social media platforms, while the UK has rolled our further developments in its Online Safety Act, bringing in new legislation that aims to protect both children and adults. But in digital spaces, progress rarely moves in a straight line, and it can feel like every meaningful step forward is matched with a new threat that pushes us backwards.

In just two short years, the use of generative AI has become widespread. And while the technology has the potential to make us more productive and creative, it's also armed bad actors with new ways to spread misinformation, share upsetting content, and develop nefarious scams – all of which pose serious risks, not just to children and young people but to adults and businesses too. So, how far have we really come in making the internet a secure and empowering space for everyone? Are things improving? Or just changing? How do we strike the right balance between protection and privacy? And what role can businesses and individuals play in keeping up with new technology to create an internet that is safe and valuable for everyone? That's what we're exploring with Cosima Wiltshire, Director at FlippGen, and James Smith, Head of Trust & Safety at Deloitte, as we ask: Is the internet getting safer?

Tune in to find out:

1. Why has the conversation around digital safety increased?
2. What significant developments in online protection have occurred in the last two years?
3. How do we measure the success of digital safety initiatives?
4. What's the role of business in creating a safer digital world for everyone?

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Guests: Cosima Wiltshire, Strategy and Partnerships Consultant at FlippGen, and James Smith, Head of Trust & Safety at Deloitte

Hosts: Stephanie Dobbs and Oliver Carpenter Original music: Ali Barrett

Recording date and location: London, 18.02.26