Andy Burnham says key AI choices "are too important to be left to chance"

On September 28 at the U.N. General Assembly, leaders weighed stronger protections for children online and rules for artificial intelligence. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said over 20 countries are enacting or studying social-media age limits, pointing to Australia's under-16 ban. France's Emmanuel Macron called for regulation, and Andy Burnham of Britain said hostile actors use bots, fake websites and false reports to stir public fears and deepen rifts. Burnham argued that key AI choices should rest with publicly accountable governments rather than unfold without public control, and said the U.K. would seek shared international benchmarks for AI clarity, readiness and safety. South Korea, Italy and Argentina offered contrasting approaches on inequality, oversight and light regulation, reflecting a broader dispute over how far governments should control digital platforms and AI.