A new children’s online safety group is being set up in a joint initiative between the UK and US governments. The announcement came in the first joint statement on online safety between the two governments.

The aim is to “go further and faster” to protect children, and the two countries will share expertise on safety technologies, work to promote greater platform transparency and assess the impact of new technology, including generative AI, on children.

UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle and US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo are joint signatories of the statement.

Kyle said: “The digital world has no borders and working with our international partners like the US – one of our closest allies and home to the biggest tech firms – is essential. This joint statement will turn our historic partnership towards delivering a safer online world for our next generation.”

The UK Department for Science, Innovation & Technology said the statement “outlines both countries’ commitment to ensuring the benefits of technology can be maximised for society, as well as social media companies’ responsibility to respect human rights and deliver safe experiences, especially for children.”

The US safety technology sector is the largest in the world, with the UK in second place. Companies in the UK sector contributed over £600m ($784m) to the UK economy in the last year alone.