Navigating Children’s Rights and AI in the UK: A roadmap through uncertain territory

Abstract

Abstract Children are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) but are simultaneously least represented in decision-making processes around the design, development, deployment, and governance of AI. This paper therefore seeks to examine current approaches to addressing children’s rights and children’s interests in this field, and in particular whether and how children’s rights and AI are considered across existing frameworks such as regulations, policy instruments, and guidance documents. The paper presents findings from a series of semi-structured interviews with public sector stakeholders in the UK, which indicated that many of these stakeholders aspire to engage children in relation to AI but do not know how, often pointing to a lack of resources or guidance. Building on these findings, our review of existing frameworks identifies key considerations, similarities, and tensions between the frameworks, and assesses to what extent children have or have not been considered and engaged with AI in the UK and international context. The review identifies gaps that we recommend should be addressed to provide further clarity and certainty in relation to children’s rights and AI. We conclude with reflections on future directions and paths forward to further develop child-centred, rights-based approaches to AI, and the importance of meaningful engagement with children to inform child-centred approaches. Children are an important stakeholder group who must be meaningfully considered and included in the conversations surrounding the future of technological innovation in order for them and duty bearers to collectively steward a shared future for responsible AI.