Children, a key yet missed demographic in AI regulation
Context:
India's hosting global AI summits and a nationwide call for AI ethics is necessary to highlight AI's impact on economy and child safety concerns.
Importance of AI Summits in India
- AI summits: India is hosting global AI summits, highlighting AI's economic significance, projected to add 500 billion dollars by 2025.
- Urge for a framework: Prime Minister of India has also called for global AI ethics framework.
- Considering Children: There is a need to focus on protecting children as they access AI-based digital services.
Challenges in Regulating AI for Children
- Threats associated to AI: It can poses risks like addiction, mental health issues, and cyber threats to young users.
- Dark patterns: Digital services often exploit children with opaque algorithms and dark patterns.
- Lack of protection laws: India's data protection law doesn't adequately safeguard children's interests or facilitate safe online experiences.
Recommendations for Child-Centric AI Regulation
- To safeguard AI environment: International best practices, like UNICEF guidelines, can guide India in creating safer AI environments.
- Setting a model: Regulation should adapt to different age groups, using California's Age Appropriate Design Code as a model.
- Consulting stakeholders’: Establish institutions for regular dialogue with children to incorporate their perspectives in AI regulation.