Pope Leo XIV: Protecting Children from AI Manipulation

Cardinal Parolin: Safeguard the dignity of children in the era of artificial intelligence.

Addressing the delegates at last week’s “The Dignity of Children and Adolescents in the Age of AI” gathering at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV outlined that protecting their dignity demands policies, but also "digital education".

AI and Ethical Challenges for Young People

He explained that artificial intelligence is being used across all areas of our lives, from school to entertainment to keeping children safe, and that it brings with it lots of questions from an ethical point of view in terms of children’s dignity and welfare.

The Pope warned against how children and adolescence may be manipulated by the algorithms powering the artificial intelligence behind their decision makers and taste determiners, etc. and that it is all the more important that (especially) parents and/or teachers bear this in mind and establish norms which could enable monitoring and governing of the digital devices used by youth.

Policy Frameworks and Child Protection

As Pope Francis has said, it is up to world powers and corporations to develop and deliver policy that protects children’s human rights and dignity in our emerging AI world, to update our data protection laws in light of AI technology; to create a framework for AI ethics reliant on our need for development and use of AI as leading to respect for the integrity of children.

"We don’t just define the peripheries of safeguarding when we write our policies. "Along with giving a resounding dignity to minors, we also need to know the limits of their digital literacy” he explained, as he quoted the link between safeguarding and reference of what the Holy Father rather said regarding is to be a collaboration of three important Catholic Organizations to pursue initiatives on safeguarding in Italy - "It’s time for adults to be craftsmen of education once more…”.

Education as the Foundation for Digital Safety

Pope suggests that to create and execute ethics, the creation and execution of ethics are necessary but not sufficient on their own; therefore, the kind of curriculum and ethos to be created or enacted must be developed through continued education from a well-formed adult, the type of adult who would be willing to work with others.

The Pope said that “not wanting to consider the dangers” of AI or giving people “unmonitored and reckless” access to these kinds of electronic options “harms the way” young people learn and relate to people”.

What's important about how the Pontiff teaches littl'uns the benefits of being offered the chance to be empowered to risk taking part in an Internet thing is the increased powers of the children if they choose to accept the empowerment to take part in their own everyday lives and those of others.

A Shared Commitment to Children’s Dignity

It is imperative to guarantee that artificial intelligence functions as a partner rather than a source of danger.

The Pope expresses that this is necessary for our ability to create and be created in relation to one another now and into the future, and that our common commitment to human dignity is to be all that we need as our base from which to act toward one another. There is only one way that AI is guaranteed to play a major role in the lives of children and youth in a positive manner, and that is the means of education with respect to AI uses ethically and responsibly.

Pope Leo ended his address with hope that this Conference will lay the groundwork for our ongoing service to the children and to the youth and to the people of the world and to our cities. Thank you. God bless.