Kosmas Zavazava, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), presented alarming information about various threats that children face in the online space.
Among the most common issues are grooming, deepfakes, the embedding of harmful functions in digital services, cyberbullying, and access to unacceptable content.
He also noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many children, especially girls, became victims of online violence, which in some cases led to physical injuries.
Specialized organizations report that perpetrators are using AI to analyze children's online behavior, emotional states, and interests, allowing them to manipulate and engage victims more effectively.
Furthermore, AI facilitates the creation of fake images of real children, leading to a new form of sexual extortion. According to a report by the independent Institute for Global Child Safety, Childlight, the number of cases of sexual violence against children using technology in the U.S. rose from 4,700 in 2023 to over 67,000 in 2024.
By the end of 2025, Australia became the first country in the world to ban children under 16 from having social media accounts, based on assessments that the risks from unsafe content significantly outweigh its potential benefits.
The Australian government relies on the results of its research, which found that nearly two-thirds of children aged 10 to 15 encountered violent or traumatic content, and more than half experienced cyberbullying. Much of this content is spread through social media.
Other countries, such as Malaysia, the UK, France, and Canada, are also considering implementing similar restrictions. For example, media reports indicate that the National Assembly of France has already passed a bill in its first reading to ban the use of social media for children under 15. This document will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration.
In early 2026, UN organizations dealing with child protection signed a Joint Statement on Artificial Intelligence and Children's Rights, highlighting serious risks and the lack of societal readiness to overcome them.
According to the UN, countries need more practical recommendations for effective regulation, which is why a detailed list of recommendations has been developed.
“Children are starting to enter the online space at increasingly younger ages, and they need to be protected,” said Zavazava. “Therefore, we have developed recommendations for protecting children online, which are addressed to various categories – parents, teachers, regulators, and the industry.”
Key Recommendations
- Regulatory systems for AI must be strengthened to protect children's rights.
- International organizations should consider children's rights in every AI-related strategy.
- Governments and companies must ensure transparency, accountability, and safety in AI systems.
- Countries should prevent and combat violence and exploitation of children using AI.
- Reliable data protection mechanisms focused on children are required.
- AI-driven decisions should consider the best interests and holistic development of each child.
- AI should be inclusive and free from bias so that all children can equally benefit from technology.
- Children's opinions and experiences should be taken into account when developing AI policies and systems.
- The development of AI should promote resilience and minimize long-term harm to future generations.
