UN decries children exposure to unregulated AI, online harms

The United Nations has issued a stark warning, calling on governments and technology firms to take immediate action to safeguard children from a growing array of online risks. The appeal, detailed in a new UN brief released ahead of International Youth Day, emphasizes the need to protect young people from disinformation, online harassment, algorithmic bias, and the malicious application of Artificial Intelligence.

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No child should be a guinea pig for unregulated AI.

According to the report, a significant majority of the world's youth are now connected, with over eight in 10 individuals aged 15 to 24 using the internet. Notably, internet penetration among young people in low-income nations has nearly doubled compared to the general population, underscoring the digital divide and the increased exposure of vulnerable youth.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has previously advocated for an AI Child Safety Pledge, likening emerging AI systems to untested medicines. "No child should be a guinea pig for unregulated AI," Guterres stated, emphasizing that accountability must not be evaded by blaming algorithms when harm occurs. The UN brief points out that many online harms are not accidental but are driven by business models prioritizing attention, data monetization, and online spending.

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When a child is harmed, the answer must never be ‘the algorithm did it.’

Risks identified include algorithms that encourage prolonged use, manipulative digital designs, "dark patterns," and loot boxes, all contributing to compulsive online behavior. Children are particularly vulnerable due to their developing habits, identities, and relationships. The UN also expressed concern about increasingly sophisticated advertising techniques targeting children and promoting online spending, normalizing "pervasive commercial surveillance and manipulative design" during their most impressionable years.

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Taken together, these practices normalise pervasive commercial surveillance and manipulative design.

However, the UN stresses that young people should not be seen solely as victims. The report acknowledges their roles as creators, organizers, journalists, and advocates in public debate. Youth-led movements continue to shape civic life, though online spaces can also expose these young organizers to harassment and surveillance. The UN urges the inclusion of young people in policymaking on information integrity, with UN Senior Adviser on Information Integrity Charlotte Scaddan stating, "Protecting them and including them are not competing goals."

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Protecting them and including them are not competing goals. We have to d