AI regulation regarding children and young people: What do guidelines say?

Over the past couple of years, AI has changed the way we work and learn. As with new technologies before, in the case of artificial intelligence, legislation is being reformed more slowly than the technology is developing. Indeed, many organisations around the world have responded to the acute need by publishing various policy regulations and ethical codes on AI in recent years.

In Finland, too, AI, its opportunities and risks have sparked debate. In the field of teaching, the use of AI in school assignments, the spread of misinformation and bullying have been discussed. As young people have quickly adopted the use of AI, its effects and the need for regulation have quickly come to light.

New report on international AI policies related to children and young people

At the request of the Ministry of Education and Culture (Finland), CSC studied what kind of guidelines on the use of AI regarding children and young people have been published internationally. CSC had already made a brief report earlier, but a more comprehensive, updated version was completed in early 2024.

CSC’s study of AI recommendations for children and young people (in Finnish)was carried out by studying the guidelines of organisations such as OECD and UNICEF, as well as authorities in different countries, and comparing their content and main points regarding AI. Political, ethical and technological policies were examined.

The report provides an overview of what should be taken into account in AI-related recommendations and how frameworks created for AI have been approached elsewhere from the perspective of children and young people. In addition, the report examines the effects of AI and other observations highlighted in the materials.

International guidelines for the protection of children and young people

The materials examined focused on ethical policies, which largely emphasized the same themes regardless of the guideline. The ethical codes highlighted human dignity and human agency, the need for transparent and explainable operations, responsibility, equality, sustainable operations, and data protection and security.

Political guidelines called for principles, strategies and legislative changes to implement ethical policies. Technological policies often focused largely on privacy, data protection and security. The guidelines identified the need for further research on AI.

Opportunities and risks of AI in education – and involving children

In addition to the guidelines, the report examined the opportunities and risks of AI in teaching environments. The opportunities included better support for learning, new ways of compiling teaching materials and activating students. Risks were more widely identified, particularly algorithm bias, data misuse, deepfakes and lack of transparency.

The general outlines are rather abstract, but some of the materials highlighted special emphasis on children and young people. The policies called for children and young people to be protected from misuse of AI. In addition, many materials mentioned the Convention on the Rights of the Child when talking about AI and how the implementation should be the starting point also for the AI discussion. 

The active agency of children and young people was also highlighted alongside protection. Children and young people should be included in the discussion on AI and they should be considered when designing AI applications. Indirect effects should also be considered.

The future of AI regulation and the EU AI Act

The subject of AI is constantly evolving, and the perspectives highlighted in the CSC report may become more specific and change as research data increases. At the time of writing the blog, the Finnish National Agency for Education and the Ministry of Education and Culture are preparing instructions on AI for early childhood education, pre-primary and comprehensive education, secondary education and liberal adult education.

It will be interesting to see how legislation, such as the EU AI Act, is used to regulate AI and what kind of impact these regulations will have.

Writer: Annamari Koskiniemi, Data Analytics Specialist, CSC