When AI Chatbots Harm Children: Who Is Responsible?
AI chatbots and companion apps are becoming an increasingly common part of young people’s lives. While these technologies offer new possibilities, they can also expose children to serious risks. How can we better protect them, and who should be held responsible when things go wrong?
Join us for an event with Megan Garcia, a mother and child safety advocate, who will share her personal testimony on what can happen when children form unsafe relationships with AI chatbots. Her story will open a discussion with experts in AI ethics, accountability and research on the risks that chatbots and companions pose to children and young people. The discussion will also look at how existing and upcoming EU legislation, including the Digital Services Act, the AI Act and the Digital Fairness Act, can help ensure better protection for minors online.
Renew Europe is a leading voice on protecting minors online. Co-organised by MEPs Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová and Michael McNamara, this event is part of our commitment to making the digital world safer for children and young people.
Join us!
AGENDA
Opening remarks: MEP Michael McNamara
Keynote speaker: Megan Garcia, child online safety advocate
-Personal testimony from a mother affected by the consequences of unsafe AI chatbot and companions interactions
Roundtable:
Geertrui Mieke De Ketelaere, engineer and author on ethical AI - Named 2024 Belgian IT Personality of the Year
Dr. Daniela Vacek, researcher and expert on responsible AI - Winner of the ESET Science Award for Outstanding Scientist in Slovakia Under the Age of 35
Martin Harris-Hess, Head of Protection of Minors Online European Commission
Maribeth Rauh & Harshvardhan Pandit – the Artificial Intelligence Accountability Lab (AIAL) Trinity College Dublin - Research Report “An Analysis of AI Companions: Friendship without Boundaries“
Closing remarks by MEP Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová
