Irish tech company Chirp is making big moves to better protect children online. After raising €4.4 million last year, they’ve opened a new funding round to speed up bringing their innovative safety software to more devices. Their technology embeds AI directly into phones and tablets, offering real-time protection without invading privacy or causing delays.

Embedding AI for Smarter Child Protection

Chirp’s approach is different from traditional parental controls. Instead of just monitoring or scanning for keywords, their system works inside encrypted apps like WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Instagram. This means harmful content can be blocked immediately, without needing to see or store private messages. It’s a more seamless and privacy-friendly way to keep kids safe online.

Online harm is a major concern. In the UK, nine out of ten children own a mobile phone by age 11, and more than 70% of children aged 5 to 15 have come across hateful content online. Existing measures often fall short because they can’t keep up with the fast pace of digital communication. Chirp’s tech aims to fix that at its core, stopping problems before they escalate.

Funding to Expand and Enhance Safety Features

The new investment will help Chirp partner with major telecom companies and device manufacturers to roll out their software worldwide. It will also boost research and development, help achieve necessary certifications, and introduce new safety features. One planned feature is Dark Web blocking, which adds another layer of protection for children’s devices against hidden online threats.

Chirp is also opening part of its funding to everyday people, including parents and community members. This crowdfunding effort shows the company’s focus on transparency and community involvement. By allowing the public to invest, Chirp hopes to build trust and foster wider adoption of its child protection technology.

From Research to Real-World Impact

Founded by CEO Rena Maycock, Chirp has partnered with organizations like the UNESCO Chair for the Prevention of Bullying at Dublin City University and Science Foundation Ireland. These collaborations helped develop their product, which is designed to become a new global standard for device-level child safety.

The company’s vision is simple: every phone should actively protect its most vulnerable users. Instead of just limiting screen time, Chirp believes embedding safety features directly into devices offers a truly effective solution. Their technology not only blocks harmful content but also aims to prevent online bullying and other dangers from affecting children.

This timing is significant, as it coincides with Anti-Bullying Week, emphasizing the urgent need for better online safety measures. Governments and regulators are increasingly pushing tech companies to take responsibility, and Chirp’s AI-powered system is well-placed to meet these demands. As they grow, the company hopes to set a new standard in protecting children worldwide from online harm. Their innovative approach marks a major step forward in making the internet a safer place for kids everywhere.

Inspired by

• https://justainews.com/ai-compliance/ai-ethics-and-society/chirp-opens-funding-round-following-e4-4m-seed-raise/