“Children Are Not Just Users”: UN Launches Global Alliance to Protect Children in the AI Era
A new international coalition has been established to ensure that children’s safety, privacy and rights remain at the centre of artificial intelligence (AI) development as technology continues to shape how children learn, communicate and grow.
The Coalition for Children’s Rights and Protection in the Age of Artificial Intelligence was launched in Geneva during the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance. The initiative brings together governments, United Nations agencies, technology companies, educators, civil society organisations and child welfare experts to promote safer AI systems for children.
The coalition is built around the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognises children as rights holders who deserve protection, participation and opportunities to develop.
As AI becomes increasingly common in children’s daily lives, including educational tools, online platforms and digital services, child protection experts warn that new technologies must be designed with safeguarding measures from the beginning. Potential risks include exposure to harmful content, privacy violations, unfair digital profiling and systems that may affect children without considering their best interests.
The coalition’s founding members have committed to ensuring that children’s voices are included in decisions about AI systems that influence their lives. They argue that children should not only be viewed as users of technology but also as individuals whose rights must guide how digital tools are created and managed.
Seventeen countries have joined the initiative, alongside UN bodies including UNICEF, UNESCO, the International Telecommunication Union and the UN human rights office.
The coalition follows calls for an AI Child Safety Pledge, reinforcing the need for stronger global action to protect children as they navigate an increasingly digital world.
