2025 Appropriate Filtering and Monitoring Definitions Published

Following a public consultation earlier this year, the UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) has now published the updated Appropriate Filtering and Monitoring Definitions for 2025. These definitions continue to support education settings and providers across the UK in understanding what should be considered ‘appropriate’ in the context of statutory safeguarding responsibilities—particularly in light of evolving technologies and updated government guidance.

UKSIC first published the definitions in 2016 to support the implementation of digital safeguarding responsibilities across the education sector. The 2025 definitions continue to align with national safeguarding guidance frameworks including, for example:
Keeping Children Safe in Education (England), Keeping Learners Safe (Wales), The 2025 version builds on the previous year’s guidance and reflects wider statutory expectations, technological developments, and the growing use of generative AI in education.

Accompanying the updated definitions are:

– A summary of substantive changes introduced this year,
– A consultation summary outlining stakeholder feedback and UKSIC’s formal response.

Some of the key updates include:
– Enhanced definitions of illegal content categories, including coercive control and intimate image abuse;
– Stronger emphasis on the role of filtering in managing access to AI-generated content;
– Clarification that mis/disinformation should be considered within the scope of filtering (not monitoring);
– Revised expectations for monitoring system identification and mobile device testing;

Reference to the DfE’s Generative AI: Product Safety Expectations for schools in England, while noting that all four UK nations have published or are developing frameworks to support safe and effective AI use in education.

“Filtering systems must effectively and reliably prevent access to harmful and inappropriate content generated by Generative AI systems. Monitoring systems must maintain robust activity logging procedures that capture interactions with generative tools.” — 2025 Definitions

The 2025 update followed a formal public consultation involving responses from technology providers, safeguarding professionals, local authorities, and national stakeholders.

Feedback focused on issues such as:

– Monitoring encrypted app-based activity,
– Timelines for implementation and SME readiness,
– Clarity around filtering definitions, AI risks, and user identification,
– Ensuring consistency with national safeguarding guidance across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In response, UKSIC has updated its filtering system accreditation cycle and committed to earlier engagement with providers in future consultation cycles.

You can view the full 2025 guidance:
📄 [Appropriate Filtering – UK Safer Internet Centre (2025)]
📄 [Appropriate Monitoring – UK Safer Internet Centre (2025)]
📄 [Summary of Substantive Changes – PDF]
📄 [Summary of Consultation responses – PDF]

Schools and providers across all nations of the UK can also contact the Professionals Online Safety Helpline for support:  helpline@saferinternet.org.uk