By Laurent Gallon, Salma Sassi and Richard Chbeir

How can artificial intelligence contribute to safer digital environments for young people while respecting their rights, privacy, and wellbeing?

This challenge is at the core of SafER-Web, a European project addressing the increasing exposure of adolescents (aged 12–18) to online risks such as cyberbullying, grooming, harmful content, and AI-related threats.

To ensure that technological innovation is grounded in responsibility and trust, Work Package 2 (WP2) plays a pivotal role in the project.

WP2: The scientific and ethical backbone of SafER-Web

WP2 establishes the foundational framework upon which all other project activities are built. It ensures that the AI tools developed in later stages are:

• ethically sound
• legally compliant
• aligned with European values and fundamental rights

The work conducted within WP2 directly informs:

• the Training and Awareness Hub (WP3)
• the AI-based tools and applications (WP4)

In this sense, WP2 acts as a strategic bridge between research, policy, and innovation.

A structured and indicator-driven research approach
The progress of WP2 is monitored through clear qualitative and quantitative indicators, reflecting both the scale and rigor of the work conducted.

Key Achievements to Date

• Identification of 25+ academic and institutional databases and sources, ensuring broad and high-quality literature coverage
• Engagement of more than 8 European partner organisations, enabling a multidisciplinary and cross-country perspective
• Mapping of 30+ ethical, legal, and policy frameworks, covering EU, international, and national levels
• Development of structured tools for:
  • bibliographic tracking
  • keyword harmonisation
  • ethical risk analysis

These indicators demonstrate the establishment of a robust and systematic research infrastructure, supporting evidence-based outputs.

Strong alignment with european policy frameworks

WP2 is fully aligned with key European and international frameworks, including:

• the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• the EU Artificial Intelligence Act
• the Better Internet for Kids (BIK+) strategy
• the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

This alignment ensures that SafER-Web contributes to ongoing European efforts to promote:

• safer digital environments
• ethical AI deployment
• protection of minors online

UPPA’s Role: leading scientific coordination and ensuring quality

The Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour (UPPA), as leader of WP2, plays a central role in ensuring the scientific coherence and quality of the project.

Its responsibilities include:

• coordinating research activities across partners
• structuring the methodological framework
• consolidating contributions into coherent outputs
• ensuring compliance with ethical and legal standards

UPPA also leads the transformation of research findings into:

• policy recommendations
• methodological guidelines
• scientific publications

Through this role, UPPA acts as a key driver of knowledge production within SafER-Web, ensuring that all project developments are grounded in reliable and validated evidence.

From research to impact

Beyond data collection, WP2 translates research into actionable insights that will support:

• educators and schools
• policymakers
• families and digital stakeholders

The outputs of WP2 will include:

• policy and ethics reports
• qualitative and quantitative analyses
• scientific publications
• operational recommendations

All results are validated through a Quality Assurance and Ethics Committee, reinforcing the credibility and reliability of the project.

Towards trustworthy and responsible AI

By combining:

• structured research
• clear indicators
• strong ethical and legal grounding

SafER-Web contributes to the development of AI systems that are:

• transparent
• accountable
• aligned with the protection of young users

WP2 plays a crucial role in ensuring that innovation is not only technological, but also responsible and human-centred.