Security for Children in the Digital Society -- A Rights-based and Research Ethics Approach

TL;DR

This paper discusses a rights-based and ethical research approach to enhance online security for children within the European context, focusing on AI regulation, stakeholder collaboration, and protection from online harms.

Contribution

It introduces a novel research ethics framework and a children's rights perspective for studying online security risks and harms in the digital society.

Findings

Development of a children's rights approach to online security

Strengthening stakeholder networks and policy engagement

Initial research results on online harms like cybergrooming

Abstract

In this position paper, we present initial perspectives and research results from the project "SIKID - Security for Children in the Digital World." The project is situated in a German context with a focus on European frameworks for the development of Artificial Intelligence and the protection of children from security risks arising in the course of algorithm-mediated online communication. The project strengthens networks of relevant stakeholders, explores regulatory measures and informs policy makers, and develops a children's rights approach to questions of security for children online while also developing a research ethics approach for conducting research with children on online harms such as cybergrooming and sexual violence against children.