NEWS

President Iotova: We Have a Responsibility to Children for the World We Are Creating through New Technologies

Our responsibility towards children also extends to the world we are creating through new technologies. This was stated by President Iliana Iotova in New York at a high-level event entitled ‘Protecting Children’s Rights in the Field of Artificial Intelligence: The Coalition for Children’s Rights and Protection in the Age of Artificial Intelligence as an Operational Tool’. The meeting was co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Kenyan President William Ruto. The Head of State is in New York to take part in the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

Safety must be built in right from the development stage of technologies, with the unequivocal protection of children at the various stages of their development, preserving their dignity and ensuring that their trust is not abused, stated Iliana Iotova. The President emphasised the responsibility not only of states to guarantee children’s safety, but also of the companies that create and develop technologies.

In her speech, the Head of State highlighted the opportunities offered by the development of artificial intelligence, but also pointed out the challenges associated with the widening of inequalities in access to technology. In her words, international efforts should be directed towards reducing these inequalities. Iotova stressed the indispensable role of the family, as well as that of teachers, who must be supported in their efforts to help children develop independent judgement and use technology confidently and responsibly. For solutions to be effective, children’s voices must also be heard, the Head of State added.

Cooperation is essential to tackle these challenges. A coalition for the protection of children in the age of artificial intelligence can make a practical contribution by sharing experience and effective approaches, Iotova further stated. For Bulgaria, the purpose of this cooperation is to ensure that every child can grow up in a safe environment and benefit from technological progress in order to develop their abilities and build a fulfilling life, she concluded.