How can we ensure child safety is maintained online?

Context:

• In a Congressional hearing, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologised to parents whose children were targeted by online predators.
• The hearing aimed to address the issue of child sexual exploitation online, and all the company executives were criticised for not taking enough action to protect children on social media platforms.

What problems exist regarding the safety of children on the internet?

• Children come against different issues with their internet usage.
• They may come across objectionable materials such as violence and pornography while surfing.
• Online predators are also a huge worry as they can use social media and game platforms to develop relationships with children and possibly groom, exploit or abuse them.
• Cyberbullying is also a problem where children experience harassment or mockery online, eventually resulting in serious emotional and psychological effects.
• Another reason why children share their personal information online is this is another reason.
• Long hours spent on screens and devices can cause addictive behaviour. It affects their mental and physical health, academic performance and social interaction negatively.
• Also, tech companies are collecting huge databases, such as non-verbal behaviour and harnessing them to personalised profiling, targeted advertisement as well as surveillance which results in infringements of privacy rights, security, and autonomy of children.
• The world’s parents and activists want big tech to take the responsibility and create platforms deemed suitable for children and teens.

Generative AI has wide-ranging applications:

• Generative AI has the potential to provide benefits such as helping with homework, explaining complex concepts, and personalising learning experiences.
• It can create various types of content including text, images, audio, and synthetic data.
• Children with disabilities can benefit from interacting with digital systems through different modes of communication.
• However, there is a concern that generative AI could be misused or unintentionally cause harm, potentially affecting children’s well-being.
• It can produce convincing false information and realistic images that are difficult to distinguish from reality.
• As children’s cognitive abilities are still developing, they are more vulnerable to the risks of misinformation.
• Additionally, there is a debate about the impact of interacting with chatbots that mimic human conversation on young minds.

How can we ensure the safety of children on the internet?

• Tech companies have been presented with an increased level of responsibility: The main obligation lies with the technology companies, as they need to integrate safety measures into their products right from the design phase.

• The recent hearings conducted by Congress have revealed that these companies are well aware of the adverse effects their applications and systems have on children.

• UNICEF provides helpful guidance for creating AI that is suitable for children: UNICEF proposes that AI should be utilised to aid in the development and well-being of children.

• They also emphasise the importance of protecting children’s data and privacy when using AI.
• Furthermore, UNICEF suggests that the most stringent data protection standards should be implemented for children’s data in virtual worlds and metaverse settings.
• Government has a responsibility to ensure the safety of children online: Governments need to regularly review and update rules to protect children’s rights when it comes to new technologies.
• They should also take measures to address and prevent harmful content and behaviours that can negatively impact children online.
• Duties and obligations of parents: It is recommended to employ an internet security suite, utilise parental controls, educate children about privacy, keep track of their online posts, establish guidelines regarding website usage and screen time, and report any instances of online harassment or mistreatment.

Source:  The Hindu

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