More than 100 international organisations have called on governments to hold artificial intelligence companies directly responsible for protecting children online, warning that existing regulatory approaches are failing to prevent harm.
The appeal, led by the children’s rights organisation 5Rights Foundation and supported by groups including Amnesty International and Save the Children, was issued ahead of the United Nations’ first Global Dialogue on AI Governance. The coalition argues that governments should require technology companies to prove their AI systems are safe for children before they are made publicly available.
The organisations said artificial intelligence is already affecting children in harmful ways and that current regulations often respond only after damage has occurred.
Leanda Barrington-Leach, executive director of the 5Rights Foundation, said children are not opposed to technological progress but want stronger safeguards in place before products reach the market.
“They aren’t asking us to block AI innovation, but it shouldn’t be a case of cleaning up the mess after harm has happened either,” she said.
The statement comes as legal challenges involving AI companies continue to grow. Firms including Character Technologies and OpenAI have faced lawsuits over allegations that AI-powered chatbots, particularly “companion” bots designed to simulate emotional relationships, can negatively affect children. Some claims also argue that these products have been presented as suitable for younger users without sufficient warnings about potential risks.
The coalition believes governments should focus on the commercial incentives that encourage companies to prioritise rapid product development and user engagement over safety.
Among the recommendations are mandatory safety assessments before AI products are released, financial penalties for companies whose systems violate children’s rights, bans on design features that exploit children’s psychological vulnerabilities, and restrictions on the commercial use of children’s images, voices and biometric data.
The organisations maintain that governments do not need entirely new legislation to introduce these protections. Instead, they argue that countries should enforce commitments already made under international agreements, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Global Digital Compact, which outlines principles for protecting human rights in the digital environment.
Barrington-Leach said stronger accountability is needed to change how AI products are developed and marketed.
“As long as companies are rewarded for speed, engagement and data extraction rather than safety, we’ll keep treating the symptoms while the disease becomes endemic,” she said. She added that respecting children’s rights should become a fundamental requirement for technology companies rather than a voluntary commitment.
The United Nations’ inaugural Global Dialogue on AI Governance is expected to bring together government representatives, technology companies, researchers and civil society organisations to discuss international standards for artificial intelligence. Child safety is likely to be one of the key topics as policymakers seek to balance technological innovation with stronger protections for vulnerable users.
