Jakarta, INTI - Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid attended a high-level international meeting focused on strengthening children’s rights and safety amid the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI).
The meeting was held in the United States on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The forum brought together heads of state, UN agencies, civil society representatives, and global technology companies to discuss joint efforts to address the growing impact of AI on children’s lives.
The meeting was co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Kenyan President William Ruto, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
AI Benefits and Risks for Children
One of the key topics was the potential benefits of AI for children, particularly in supporting education and expanding access to information.
At the same time, participants highlighted various risks associated with AI use, including privacy violations, misuse of children’s data, and exposure to harmful content.
The misuse of AI to create sexual material involving children was also identified as a major concern.
Macron said the international community should learn from its experience with the rapid rise of social media to avoid responding too slowly to emerging technologies such as AI.
One approach discussed was requiring risk assessments before AI technologies can be made available to or accessed by children.
Participants emphasized that these assessments should be conducted independently, with the involvement of governments, the United Nations, scientists, academics, and other relevant stakeholders.
Macron also stressed the importance of evaluating AI models to provide stronger safeguards for children using the technology.
The forum discussed measures to ensure that children do not use AI systems without appropriate assessment and safeguards being put in place beforehand.
Risk assessments should also take into account children’s age, the intended purpose of the technology, and cultural, linguistic, and educational contexts.
Pedro Sánchez, William Ruto, and Anthony Albanese also shared their respective countries’ experiences and approaches to strengthening child protection amid the development of AI.
Accelerating International Cooperation
The forum also addressed the need to strengthen safety standards and research into the impact of AI use on children’s development.
The involvement of parents, educators, and children themselves in developing policies governing AI use was also highlighted.
Participants agreed on the need to accelerate international cooperation to protect children amid the rapid advancement of AI technology.
Further discussions on child protection are expected to continue at the Paris Peace Forum in November 2026.
The follow-up meeting is expected to address AI assessment methodologies, policy implementation mechanisms, and funding considerations.
Alongside her participation in the UN-related meeting, Meutya also met with representatives from Roblox to discuss child protection in the digital environment.
She also held a meeting with Google representatives to discuss strengthening Indonesia’s digital infrastructure and ecosystem.
Conclusion
International cooperation is becoming increasingly important in ensuring AI development remains safe for children. The discussions highlighted the need for stronger risk assessments, safety standards, stakeholder involvement, and coordinated policies to protect children in the digital environment.
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