UNITED ORGANIZATIONS, October 14 (IPS) – On October 11, the United Nations (UN) and its affiliated organizations held a meeting that discussed the increasingly dangerous situation and exploitation plaguing the Internet and what can be done to protect children from being exposed to it. . Speakers at the conference detailed emerging technologies that threaten children, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), which often facilitate sexual abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. In a world focused on digital consumption and innovation, it is important to keep the internet a safe place for the most vulnerable people, children.
“The EU (European Union) believes that access to digital technologies is very important for children to participate in the digital decade and to become citizens through the Internet,” said Ambassador Hedda Samson, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation.
Throughout the past two decades, the Internet has become a fundamental tool for the education and development of children, helping to build important social skills and promoting career endeavors. According to Ms. Fatima Singhateh, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking, Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse of Children, about 80 percent of people aged 15 to 24 are the driving force of communication, worldwide.
However, the digital age has also brought about an increase in violent or sexually explicit content, which has been linked to negative effects on young brain development. Samson adds: “Over the past two decades, the volume of child sexual abuse material online has grown exponentially and as we navigate the global digital revolution, we need to step up our game to ensure that children and young people are protected and empowered to face the challenges of the digital sphere”.
The rapid development of AI technology, and the increase in its use over the past four years, has become a major concern for humanitarian organizations and children’s rights activists. Deepfake technology has made it possible for cybercriminals to create and distribute realistic child sexual abuse materials on a large scale. Additionally, many AI tools are unregulated, exposing children to potentially harmful content.
“While AI offers great potential to improve child protection, at the same time it presents significant risks when used for illegal purposes. In 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received more than 4,700 reports of child sexual abuse material generated by AI, and within nine .In a few months, one dark web site sold more than 3,500 new AI-generated images of child sexual abuse.
During the conference, Irakli Beridze, Head of the Center for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics at the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) discussed the UAE and the new UN collaborative effort entitled “AI For Safer Children Global Hub” which monitors the -AI. programs in an effort to increase transparency, accountability, and privacy, allowing for safe and responsible use.
The initiative uses more than 90 AI tools to combat sexually harassing content and assist law enforcement, including image and text analysis, object recognition, voice recognition, and facial mapping. Special training began in May 2023 to prepare more than 2,250 officers from more than 28 countries to investigate violations of children’s rights online.
Some social media platforms have started programs to protect underage users from being exposed to graphic content. On September 17th, Instagram launched their “new accounts”, which are private accounts with more limited features and increased parental controls. Younger users, including those who may try to lie about their age, are placed in private accounts where they can only interact with users they follow. Additionally, Instagram has taken steps to limit sexually abusive content, as well as content that promotes violence, self-harm, and junk food.
In April 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched Know2Protect, Together We Can Stop Online Child Exploitation, a public awareness campaign partnering with technology companies and youth organizations to increase national education about safe online practices and signs of child exploitation. Know2Protect’s basic education program, Project iGuardian, has provided more than 82,000 children, parents, and teachers with 950 presentations on Internet safety and preventive measures, resulting in more than 41 sexual exploitation victim disclosures and more than 72 criminal investigations offenders.
It is important to raise awareness among children and caregivers, especially considering that AI is improving in its flexibility and efficiency every day. This issue requires a dynamic discussion that is accessible to children around the world, especially vulnerable populations, such as girls, children in developing countries, and LGBTQ children.
“We need to continue talking about sexual abuse and exploitation in the digital environment. Especially in neglected communities, such as the Global South and less developed countries. I would like to see harmonized laws so that perpetrators do not look for gaps or loopholes in their respective laws to take advantage (of children)”, said Fatima Singhateh.
IPS UN Bureau Report
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
