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   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   
      
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