iWIN reports surge in online privacy complaints involving minors

The iWIN Internet Content Safety Institute reported a significant surge in online privacy complaints involving minors during its 2026 annual conference. Data shows that privacy-related complaints reached 439 in the first half of 2026, already surpassing the total of 287 cases recorded for the entire year of 2025.

Executive Director Huang Yi-feng noted that while pornography remains the most frequent complaint type, there is a marked increase in issues regarding cyberbullying, improper behavior, and privacy violations such as doxxing. Huang emphasized that traditional reactive measures, like parental internet restrictions or reporting content after the fact, are no longer sufficient due to the evolving digital landscape.

The organization is advocating for a “safety design ecosystem,” urging technology platforms to integrate child safety protections directly into the product design phase. This approach mirrors existing tools like Google’s Family Link and Meta’s teen accounts, aiming to provide proactive protection against risks including misinformation and virtual emotional dependency.