‘Child Safety in Cyberspace’ dimension: main outcomes
- Summit
The panel dedicated to kids’ security in cyberspace was a part of The Fourth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen program.
The panel was opened by Ylva Johansson, EU commissioner of Home Affairs. She greeted the participants and admired the bravery of Ukrainians in resisting a larger, ruthless enemy. The main topic of discussion was child sexual abuse, including the impact of war and the increasing danger posed by the internet. In particular, Mrs Johansson shared harrowing examples of abuse and emphasised the role of online platforms in enabling predators. A concerning statistic showed a more than 300% increase in online grooming in Europe within just a year.
The panel discussion on the topic of cybersecurity and possible solutions on regional levels was then discussed by Minister of the Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko, Spouse of the President of the Republic of Slovenia Aleš Musar, and Spouse of the Prime Minister of Denmark Bo Tengberg. Former Government Chief Information Officer of Estonia, Luukas Ilves, moderated the discussion.
Mr Klymenko emphasised that a hybrid war is being fought in the information space. Law enforcement and other agencies in Ukraine are tasked with making the internet safer for children. In addition to these wartime issues, pre-existing problems such as cyberbullying, grooming, and sexting have worsened. Minister of the Internal Affairs of Ukraine warned that AI might introduce new challenges in cyberbullying. Over the last months, numerous charges were brought against Ukrainian citizens involved in crimes targeting children.
Aleš Musar shared how Slovenia had taken steps to combat widespread issues of sexual abuse online, including grooming, sexting, and the production of child pornography, by enacting stricter laws, resulting in a 300% increase in prosecuted cases.
Bo Tengberg, a film producer himself, addressed the significant responsibility of content creators when producing media for children, whether for cinema, TV, or online platforms.
The panel’s other discussion was dedicated to the industry and organisations. The speakers were Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google in Europe Annette Kroeber-Riel, Regional Public Policy Lead Central and Eastern Europe Meta Kateryna Kruk, Global Innovation Director, UNICEF Office of Innovation, Thomas Davin.
The speakers stressed the importance of partnerships between platforms, governments, and civil society in creating a safer digital environment. These partnerships include age verification, parental control tools, and content regulation to combat grooming and sexual exploitation. Overall, participants emphasised a collective responsibility to protect young internet users.
Valeriya Ionan, the Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine for European Integration, gave the panel’s closing speech. Ms Ionan discussed Ukraine’s ongoing digital transformation and its impact on various sectors, focusing on improving digital literacy and online safety, especially for children. She highlighted Ukraine’s goal to become the most convenient digital state in the world. Ionan emphasised Ukraine’s commitment to protecting children from online threats, such as cybercrimes, and highlighted partnerships with organisations like Google and StopCrime. Ms Ionan mentioned a new initiative using AI to provide personalised learning for students and the country’s focus on cybersecurity and educational technology as priorities for innovation.
Valeriya Ionan also expressed Ukraine’s openness to global partnerships, hoping to build a brighter digital future together.
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