AfriCHI Workshop site

Caring mom providing children's online privacy protection

Designing an AI solution for Child Online Safety in Africa

Will Be Held On:

As part of the AfriCHI 2023 pre-conference activities, workshops will run in parallel on

27 November – 01 December 2023

WORKSHOP AIMS

In an age where technology intersects with daily life at every turn, our workshop aims to address pressing issues surrounding child online safety in Africa. Specifically, our objectives are: -

Understanding Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is crucial for creating safe, user-centric digital environments. We aim to delve into strategies that prioritise child safety, promoting both enjoyable and protected online experiences;
Given the plethora of AI-driven tools available, a critical evaluation of their efficacy in safeguarding children is necessary. We'll dissect existing solutions, weighing their merits against potential shortcomings;
Recognising the unique socio-cultural landscape of Africa, our goal is to collaboratively craft AI solutions that resonate with local values, ensuring both relevance and effectiveness.

Multicultural School Children Using Laptop Computers Learning in Classroom, Panorama

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is ubiquitous in today’s interconnected world, providing a myriad of potent algorithms used for data analysis and predictive modeling. Families and children alike are leveraging digital tools to enhance various aspects such as learning, social interaction and play. Notably, AI has significant potential to bolster child online safety and mitigate the risks posed by the digital realm (Livingstone, Carr & Byrne, 2015).

However, alongside the numerous opportunities offered by digital technologies, there is an increasing risk of harmful exposure for children, including cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, and exposure to inappropriate content (UNICEF, 2017). Yet, these risks can be reduced or even eliminated through the judicious application of AI.

The integration of offline and online experiences can often exacerbate the threats many children face, hence necessitating the development and implementation of AI-powered solutions across Africa (Holloway, Green & Livingstone, 2013). This workshop aligns with SDG 16, focusing on protecting every child from violence, exploitation, and abuse which in the contemporary era is escalated by the burgeoning use of the Internet among children.

There is a growing concern about whether AI applications, widely used by children, adequately consider their well-being. Social -media, entertainment, and educational apps are predominantly AI-based, yet they inadvertently expose children to myriad online risks. Consequently, the workshop aims to interrogate how AI can be more effectively harnessed for child online protection.

Do the recently developed AI applications that children use on a regular basis take their well-being into consideration? Most of the social media, entertainment, and educational apps that children use are AI-based, but they also tend to expose them to a lot of online risks. How can AI be used to protect children online in an efficient manner?

Goal of the workshop: Designing an AI solution for Child Online Safety in Africa

Meet Your Facilitator / Cyber Ninjas