GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / EuroWire / – A new coalition on children’s rights in the AI age took shape during the first United Nations Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva. Spain announced the initiative as governments, civil society, experts, and industry representatives met to discuss global rules for artificial intelligence. The talks focused on safety, access, accountability, and human rights as AI tools spread through schools, homes, social platforms, and online services used by children.
The coalition seeks common principles for AI systems that affect children’s safety, privacy, learning, and development. Spain said the effort would work under the United Nations framework. France, Kenya, and the European Commission supported the launch effort, according to official statements. The initiative adds a child rights track to a wider AI governance debate that has often focused on security, labour markets, competition, and national capacity.
The Geneva meeting drew attention to the fast growth of AI use among children. UNICEF has said children are adopting AI tools faster than adults in several surveyed markets. It has also called for child safety, inclusion, transparency, and accountability to guide AI policy. Child rights groups have raised concerns about harmful content, deepfakes, data use, targeted design, and AI systems that interact with children without clear safeguards.
Child safety enters AI policy
UN Secretary-General António Guterres used the opening of the dialogue to call for child-specific safeguards in AI systems. His remarks urged safety checks before companies make AI products accessible to children. He also called for strong action against AI-generated child sexual abuse images. The United Nations meeting did not aim to create a treaty. It brought governments and stakeholders together to discuss principles, risks, and shared oversight tools.
A separate civil society statement coordinated by 5Rights Foundation urged governments to require safety testing for AI systems used by children. The statement drew support from more than 100 organisations and experts. Its recommendations included stronger company accountability, limits on manipulative design, and protections for children’s images, voices, biometric data, education records, and behavioural data. The groups said existing child rights commitments should apply to AI governance.
Governance talks widen in Geneva
The Global Dialogue on AI Governance follows commitments in the Global Digital Compact. The compact calls for an open, safe, secure, and inclusive digital future. The dialogue gives all governments a forum to discuss AI rules, capacity gaps, human rights, and oversight. Its Geneva session also reviewed work by an independent scientific panel on AI. That panel examined both the benefits and risks of advanced systems.
The coalition places children at the centre of one part of that agenda. Its launch reflected a growing focus on how AI affects education, online safety, privacy, and child development. The issue now sits alongside wider questions about access to computing power, digital divides, and human control over automated systems. The Geneva discussions gave governments and child rights advocates a shared forum to set out concerns and policy priorities.