PRESS RELEASE
Preliminary study: Growing up safely with AI
SOS Children's Villages Worldwide and Terre des Hommes publish preliminary study "Growing up safely with AI": Call for four pillars of protection
Artificial intelligence is already influencing how children learn, communicate, and seek emotional support.
Every day, the possibilities offered by AI are growing, but experts also point to massive gaps in protection. These gaps significantly increase the risks for children and young people online, particularly regarding sexualized violence and bullying using deepfakes, as well as psychological dependence on virtual companions (companion chatbots).
The children's rights organizations SOS Children's Villages Worldwide and Terre des Hommes therefore commissioned the preliminary study "Growing Up Safely with AI". Based on the perspectives of young people and international AI experts, they call on tech companies and policymakers to implement effective protective measures in four key areas: technology, knowledge, law, and participation.
Sound bites
“Children aren’t growing up alongside AI, they’re growing up with it. But while tech companies earn billions, young people are often left unprotected – especially against deepfakes, manipulative algorithms, and emotional dependency. That’s why child protection must be part of every AI application from the very beginning. We need binding standards for safety by design, effective age verification, and the systematic participation of children in AI regulation,” said Joshua Hofert, spokesperson for the board of Terre des Hommes .
"While tech companies are investing unimaginable sums in the development of AI applications, legal regulation is increasingly lagging behind. To reduce the risks to children from AI, we must take comprehensive measures. But child protection doesn't just mean reducing risks. Children and young people need the skills to use digital spaces critically, safely, and confidently," says Professor Dr. Sabina Schutter of SOS Children's Villages Worldwide.
The four areas of action at a glance:
- Protection through technology – for example, through effective age verification, mandatory age-appropriate default settings, and the prohibition of manipulative patterns
- Protection through knowledge – for example, through guidelines for parents and teachers, integration of the topic into curricula, and long-term research on the effects of AI applications
- Protection through law – for example, through international minimum standards, the amendment of existing laws, and the consistent sanctioning of legal violations
- Protection through participation – in particular through the systematic involvement of children and young people in the development and regulation of AI
The list of demands from the two children's rights organizations can be found at this link.
Further information and a link to the study can be found here:
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SOS Children's Villages Worldwide is an independent social organization dedicated to helping orphaned or abandoned children, or children whose families are unable to care for them. Through education, medical care, and psychological support, children are empowered to overcome their difficult circumstances. The organization operates in more than 130 countries with over 3,500 aid programs, including kindergartens, schools, youth centers, vocational training and social centers, and medical clinics. SOS Children's Villages also provides emergency relief in acute crises.
Terre des Hommes protects children from violence, exploitation, and the consequences of war, displacement, and environmental destruction. Together with local partner organizations, Terre des Hommes promotes sustainable projects in more than 40 countries and provides humanitarian aid. Young people worldwide, as well as members in Germany, advocate for children's rights. The children's rights organization operates independently of governments, businesses, religious communities, and political parties.