Yearly, Safer Web Day gives a chance to pause and mirror on the state of on-line security – how far we’ve come and the way we are able to proceed to enhance. For nearly a decade, Microsoft has marked the event by releasing analysis on how people of all ages understand and expertise danger on-line. Final yr, we highlighted the rising significance of AI. This yr, in our ninth World On-line Security Survey, we’ve dug deeper to grasp how folks view and are utilizing this expertise, plus how properly they’ll determine AI-generated content material.
Our findings present that whereas there was a world improve in AI customers (51% have ever used in comparison with 39% in 2023), worries in regards to the expertise have additionally elevated: 88% of individuals had been nervous about generative AI, in comparison with 83% final yr. Additional, our information confirms that individuals have problem in figuring out AI generated content material, which can amplify abusive AI content material dangers.
Asserting new assets to empower the accountable use of AI
At Microsoft, we’re dedicated to advancing AI responsibly to appreciate its advantages. Basic to that is the work we do to construct a robust security structure and to safeguard our providers from abuse. Sadly, we all know that the creation of dangerous content material is among the methods during which AI might be topic to abuse, which is why we’re taking a complete strategy to addressing this difficulty. That strategy consists of public consciousness and schooling – and this yr’s analysis underscored the necessity for media literacy and steering on the accountable use of AI. Constructing on the launch of our Household Security Toolkit final yr, we’re happy to announce new assets:
- Partnership with Childnet: We’re proud to associate with Childnet, a number one UK group devoted to creating the web a safer place for youngsters. Collectively, we’re growing instructional supplies aimed toward stopping the misuse of AI, such because the creation of deepfakes. These assets shall be obtainable to varsities and households, offering beneficial info on learn how to shield youngsters from on-line dangers. This partnership underscores our complete strategy to tackling non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) dangers, together with by way of schooling for teenagers.
- Minecraft “CyberSafe AI: Dig Deeper”: We’re thrilled to announce the discharge of “CyberSafe AI: Dig Deeper,” a brand new instructional recreation in Minecraft and Minecraft Training that focuses on the accountable use of AI. This recreation is designed to have interaction younger minds and foster curiosity whereas educating necessary classes about AI in a secure and managed recreation surroundings. Gamers will embark on thrilling adventures, fixing puzzles and challenges that spotlight the moral issues of AI and put together them to navigate real-world digital security eventualities at residence and in school. Whereas the participant doesn’t interact with generative AI expertise straight by way of the sport, they’ll work by way of challenges and eventualities that simulate use of AI and discover ways to use it responsibly. “Dig Deeper” is the fourth installment in a sequence of CyberSafe worlds from Minecraft created in partnership with Xbox Household Security which were downloaded greater than 80 million occasions.
- AI Information for Older Adults: We’re additionally proud to associate with Older Adults Expertise Companies (OATS) from AARP, whose packages and companions collectively interact over 500,000 older adults every year with free expertise and AI coaching. As a part of the partnership, OATS launched an AI Information for Older Adults that helps folks age 50+ perceive the advantages and dangers of AI, together with steering on staying secure. Coaching for OATS name middle workers to deal with AI-related questions can be serving to improve older adults’ confidence of their means to make use of the expertise and spot scams.
Further assets for educators to assist college students navigate the digital world might be discovered right here.
A deeper dive into this yr’s World On-line Security Survey findings
Because the digital panorama evolves, we adapt our world survey inquiries to mirror these adjustments. This yr, we recognized a chance to quiz folks on their means to determine AI-generated content material utilizing pictures from Microsoft’s “Actual or Not” quiz. We requested respondents about their confidence in recognizing deepfakes earlier than and after taking a look at a sequence of pictures. We discovered 73% of respondents admitted that recognizing AI-generated pictures is difficult, and solely 38% of pictures had been recognized appropriately. We additionally requested folks about their considerations: widespread worries about generative AI included scams (73%), sexual or on-line abuse (73%) and deepfakes (72%).
Our analysis additionally reveals that individuals worldwide proceed to be uncovered to quite a lot of on-line dangers, with 66% uncovered to at the least one danger over the past yr. Yow will discover the total outcomes, together with further information on teen and dad or mum experiences and perceptions of life on-line right here.
Reaffirming our dedication to on-line security
Our strategy at Microsoft is centered on empowering customers by advancing security and human rights. We all know we’ve got a accountability to take steps to guard our customers from unlawful and dangerous on-line content material and conduct, in addition to to contribute to a safer on-line ecosystem. We even have a accountability to guard human rights, together with vital values comparable to freedom of expression, privateness, and entry to info. At Microsoft, we obtain this stability by way of rigorously tailoring our security interventions throughout our completely different shopper providers, relying on the character of the service and of the hurt.
Our strategy to advance on-line security has all the time been grounded in privateness and free expression. We advocate for proportionate and tailor-made security laws, supporting risk-based approaches whereas cautioning in opposition to over-broad measures that hinder privateness or freedom of speech. We are going to proceed to have interaction carefully with policymakers and regulators around the globe on methods to deal with the most important dangers, particularly to youngsters, in considerate methods: productiveness software program like Microsoft Phrase, for instance, shouldn’t be topic to the identical necessities as a social media service. And eventually, we are going to proceed our advocacy for modernized laws to shield the general public from abusive AI-generated content material in assist of a safer digital surroundings for all.
World On-line Security Survey Methodology
Microsoft has revealed annual analysis since 2016 that surveys how folks of various ages use and consider on-line expertise. This newest consumer-based report is predicated on a survey of almost 15,000 teenagers (13-17) and adults that was performed this previous summer time in 15 international locations analyzing folks’s attitudes and perceptions about on-line security instruments and interactions. Responses to on-line security differ relying on the nation. Full outcomes might be accessed right here.
