Enhancing Children’s Digital Protection and Safeguarding Children’s Rights in the AI Era

Description

DigiGuard aims to enhance children’s digital safety and rights across Europe through child participation, stronger protective systems, and inclusive digital literacy. The project addresses growing online risks, including cyberbullying, privacy breaches, misinformation, and AI-driven manipulation, through a holistic, child-centred approach.

The project is intended for children aged 9–17, parents and guardians, teachers, school staff, and other professionals working with children. Children are at the centre of the project as active participants who can help shape a safer digital environment for themselves and their peers.

Goals

• Strengthen children’s digital literacy and ability to identify and respond to online risks, including misinformation, privacy threats, and AI-related risks.
• Empower children to actively participate in shaping safer and more inclusive digital environments.
• Strengthen the capacity of parents, guardians, teachers, and school staff to support children’s digital safety.
• Create safe opportunities for children to share their experiences and concerns and access expert guidance.
• Ensure children’s voices and recommendations inform digital policies and practices.
• Promote child rights, safeguarding, gender equality, non-discrimination, and inclusion in digital environments.
• Strengthen cooperation between children, policymakers, educators, civil society, and digital sector stakeholders.

Activities

• Digital literacy workshops for children in schools, focusing on misinformation, privacy protection, safe Internet use, and understanding artificial intelligence.
• Children’s Advisory Board, bringing together children from partner countries to contribute to the design of project activities and materials.
• Training for teachers and parents/guardians to help them recognize digital risks and support children in their everyday use of digital technologies.
• Children’s digital ambassadors, who will promote safe and responsible Internet use among their peers.
• Online forum, providing a safe and moderated space where children can anonymously ask questions and receive expert guidance on digital safety.
• National roundtables, where children will present their experiences and recommendations directly to policymakers and representatives from the digital sector.
• Final international conference, where project results, child-led recommendations, and proposals for strengthening children’s digital protection will be shared.

Expected results

• Children will develop stronger skills to identify online risks, AI-related threats, and misinformation. Through participation, peer learning, and awareness activities, they will be empowered to see themselves as active agents in creating safer digital environments.
• Parents and caregivers will gain greater confidence and practical tools to discuss digital safety with children and support them online while maintaining trust-based communication rather than relying on excessive surveillance.
• Teachers and school staff will strengthen their capacity to address digital risks and integrate digital safety, AI awareness, digital resilience, and children’s rights into learning environments.
• Policymakers and authorities will receive direct input from children on digital policy needs and gain greater awareness of gaps related to AI, online safety, and children’s rights.