Yearly, Safer Web Day supplies a possibility 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 threat 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 individuals view and are utilizing this expertise, plus how effectively they will establish AI-generated content material.
Our findings present that whereas there was a worldwide improve in AI customers (51% have ever used in comparison with 39% in 2023), worries concerning the expertise have additionally elevated: 88% of individuals had been fearful 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 comprehend its advantages. Elementary 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 likely one of the methods by which AI could be topic to abuse, which is why we’re taking a complete method to addressing this problem. That method contains public consciousness and training – 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 accomplice with Childnet, a number one UK group devoted to creating the web a safer place for kids. Collectively, we’re creating instructional supplies geared toward stopping the misuse of AI, such because the creation of deepfakes. These assets might be accessible to varsities and households, offering precious data on how one can shield youngsters from on-line dangers. This partnership underscores our complete method to tackling non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) dangers, together with via training 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 Schooling that focuses on the accountable use of AI. This recreation is designed to have interaction younger minds and foster curiosity whereas educating essential classes about AI in a protected and managed recreation setting. Gamers will embark on thrilling adventures, fixing puzzles and challenges that spotlight the moral concerns of AI and put together them to navigate real-world digital security situations at residence and at college. Whereas the participant doesn’t have interaction with generative AI expertise straight via the sport, they may work via challenges and situations that simulate use of AI and learn to use it responsibly. “Dig Deeper” is the fourth installment in a collection 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 accomplice with Older Adults Know-how Companies (OATS) from AARP, whose applications and companions collectively have interaction over 500,000 older adults annually with free expertise and AI coaching. As a part of the partnership, OATS launched an AI Information for Older Adults that helps individuals age 50+ perceive the advantages and dangers of AI, together with steering on staying protected. Coaching for OATS name heart workers to deal with AI-related questions can also be serving to improve older adults’ confidence of their means to make use of the expertise and spot scams.
Extra assets for educators to assist college students navigate the digital world could 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 possibility to quiz individuals on their means to establish AI-generated content material utilizing photographs 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 collection of photographs. We discovered 73% of respondents admitted that recognizing AI-generated photographs is tough, and solely 38% of photographs had been recognized accurately. We additionally requested individuals about their issues: widespread worries about generative AI included scams (73%), sexual or on-line abuse (73%) and deepfakes (72%).
Our analysis additionally exhibits that individuals worldwide proceed to be uncovered to quite a lot of on-line dangers, with 66% uncovered to not less than one threat over the past yr. You will discover the complete outcomes, together with extra information on teen and dad or mum experiences and perceptions of life on-line right here.
Reaffirming our dedication to on-line security
Our method at Microsoft is centered on empowering customers by advancing security and human rights. We all know we’ve a duty 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 duty to guard human rights, together with vital values corresponding to freedom of expression, privateness, and entry to data. At Microsoft, we obtain this stability via rigorously tailoring our security interventions throughout our completely different client providers, relying on the character of the service and of the hurt.
Our method to advance on-line security has at all times been grounded in privateness and free expression. We advocate for proportionate and tailor-made security laws, supporting risk-based approaches whereas cautioning towards over-broad measures that hinder privateness or freedom of speech. We are going to proceed to have interaction intently with policymakers and regulators world wide on methods to sort out the largest 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’ll proceed our advocacy for modernized laws to shield the general public from abusive AI-generated content material in assist of a safer digital setting for all.
World On-line Security Survey Methodology
Microsoft has printed annual analysis since 2016 that surveys how individuals of various ages use and look at on-line expertise. This newest consumer-based report relies on a survey of practically 15,000 teenagers (13-17) and adults that was carried out this previous summer season in 15 nations inspecting individuals’s attitudes and perceptions about on-line security instruments and interactions. Responses to on-line security differ relying on the nation. Full outcomes could be accessed right here.
