A series of workshops are being planned for parents to help them identify the risks their children face from Artificial Intelligence and other developing technologies.
The Office of the Data Protection Authority said the workshops – all being held in March – will equip parents to help their children make “safe choices”.
This will particularly focus around the use of AI, said Commissioner Brent Homan.
He warned that AI seems to have “exploded” “into our lives in the past few years, and is likely to continue to increase its place in our everyday lives”.
While there are many positive uses for this technology, there are also intrinsic risks that have already been identified including the misuse of AI tools such as ‘Grok’ to create non-consensual deepfake images of individuals including children.
Other platforms also offer users ways of ‘nudifying’ and altering images of people – including ones highlighted in the recent conviction of disgraced former politician and pastor Jonathan Le Tocq.
The theme of making ‘safe choices’ while using such available technology is at the heart of the Office of the Data Protection Authority’s new Parents’ Workshop, which Mr Homan will present himself in partnership with the Bailiwick’s schools.
He said he’ll be sharing practical tips to help parents and carers ensure their children are appropriately safeguarded while using three of the most widely used online platforms: Snapchat, TikTok and Roblox.
“These interactive, informal workshops provide actionable advice on supporting our children in a digital era that holds both promise and peril,” said Commissioner Homan.
“Protecting children’s rights is a priority for our office and we have developed a suite of tools to do just that, from conducting classroom sessions in schools to engaging with tech companies about safe practices. In our new workshops for parents, we focus on the most popular platforms for children and young people and how you can make your child’s experience safer.”
The ODPA’s workshops are all being held in March:
- 10 March St Sampson’s High School 17:30-18:30
- 11 March Amherst Primary School 18:00-19:00
- 12 March Castel Primary School 18:00-19:00
- 19 March Sixth Form Centre 18:00-19:00
For resources, visit the Safer Internet Day’s homepage How to engage with Safer Internet Day on social media safely – UK Safer Internet Centre or download the ODPA’s tip sheet for parents.
The ODPA announced the workshops on ‘Safer Internet Day’ – the same day a glossary of terms was published highlighting the ‘digital language’ that children and young people may be using without the knowledge of their parents or carers.