Protecting children’s rights in the digital age: Balancing opportunities and risks through collaboration
Technological solutions like parental controls and age verification were explored, alongside the importance of education in digital literacy for both children and adults.

Experts from governments, tech companies, and civil society came together to address the growing challenge of protecting children’s rights in the digital age. While the internet offers immense opportunities for learning and development, it also exposes children to serious risks, including cyberbullying, privacy violations, deepfakes, and data exploitation.
‘The digital world can be both a playground and a battlefield,’ remarked Eugene Kaspersky, CEO of Kaspersky Lab, who emphasised that educating adults is just as crucial as teaching children about online safety.
This Internet Governance Forum (IGF) panel also discussed the limitations of relying solely on technology, highlighting tools like parental controls, age assurance protocols, and safety features on platforms like Meta, which has adopted a ‘best interests of the child framework.’ However, they stressed that technological measures must be complemented by robust education and digital literacy initiatives.
Syed Munir Khasru, chairman of the Institute for Policy, Advocacy and Governance, underscored the role of parents, saying, ‘We have to train, educate, and inspire the children. And in my opinion, they are very smart.’ Andrei Zarenin, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media, added that fostering trust and communication between children and parents is key to navigating the digital landscape.
Collaboration was a recurring theme, with panellists calling for governments, private companies, and civil society to work together on standards and protocols for child safety online. Cross-platform projects like Project Lantern were cited as examples of tackling online harms on a broader scale.
Despite advancements, unresolved issues remain, such as effective age verification, balancing privacy with protection, and addressing the digital divide. Marleni Cuellar, the moderator of this session, concluded that the goal is simple yet profound: ‘the importance of all children and wanting the best for them in the digital world.’
All transcripts from the Internet Governance Forum sessions can be found on dig.watch.