At The Walt Disney Company, we believe in creating fun, positive, safe, and inclusive digital experiences for children, families, and communities around the world. This includes designing our services with safety in mind and supporting others to learn about, utilise, and advance safer practices. To that end, we have been long supporters of Safer Internet Day.
This year’s Safer Internet Day highlights the importance of understanding AI’s capabilities, its challenges, and its impact on young people. Disney recognises that AI is rapidly evolving, presenting both extraordinary opportunities and equally important responsibilities. With a steadfast commitment to the responsible use of AI, Disney embraces the promise of AI as a tool to benefit our creators, employees, customers, and guests. And we remain committed to continually assessing how to best protect our users, support our storytellers and creators, influence the development of a responsible AI ecosystem, and uphold our commitments to advancing online safety.
Brent Olson, Senior Vice President of Global Public Policy for The Walt Disney Company, notes, “Disney advocates a responsible by design policy and legal framework for AI development and use. This is critical to promoting a safer Internet and indeed to Disney’s ability to realise its longstanding commitment to prioritise safe digital experiences by controlling how our characters are used. As such, we remain proud supporters of Safer Internet Day, joining partners, parents, educators, and youth in promoting this year’s focus: Smart tech, safe choices – exploring the safe and responsible use of AI. Humans are, and will always be, Disney’s creative engine, and our responsible use of AI across our business is undertaken in alignment with our longstanding standards for privacy, trust, and integrity.”
Disney remains deeply committed to helping families make safe and informed choices online. Across our digital products and platforms, we provide tools that help parents and caregivers manage their family’s engagement with our content, including robust parental controls on Disney+ and thoughtfully curated experiences for younger audiences.
More broadly, Disney supports a variety of initiatives that promote digital literacy, responsible technology use, and youth empowerment. Our Digital Wellness Grant Program continues to fund nonprofit organisations – including Childnet – to equip children, caregivers, and educators with the skills they need to help kids stay safe online, encouraging mindful engagement with technology, and offering critical resources for those who encounter digital risks.
Together, with families, educators, youth advocates, policymakers, and technology partners, we can help ensure that new technologies are used wisely, ethically, and in ways that inspire creativity while keeping safety at the centre. On Safer Internet Day and every day, Disney is proud to contribute to a digital world where children and young people can explore, learn, and create with confidence.