Artificial intelligence: how to protect children?

The Cambridge Dictionary defines deep fakes such as videos or sound recordings that replace one person’s face or voice with that of another person, in a way that appears real. And even though we’ve all laughed at some point deep fakesWhat happens when children are the protagonists?

In April, a 61-year-old Canadian man was sentenced to more than 36 months in prison for creating, through deep fakes, fake child pornography videos. Provincial judge Benoit Gagnon expressed his concerns about this case in his decision rendered the same month. “The use of deepfake technologies in criminal hands is frightening. This type of software allows crimes to be committed that could involve virtually every child in our communities. “, he claimed. “A simple video fragment of a child available on social networks or a video of children recorded in a public place could transform them into potential victims of child pornography.

In September, a man was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for the same crime in South Korea, and in the same month in Spain, a group of mothers of girls aged 12 to 17 denounced the creation of nudes without their consent. by a part of course friends. “The brain does not distinguish between experiencing something, remembering something or imagining something,” explains Maribel Corcuera, a child psychologist. “Seeing a pornographic video with your face, it’s almost as if you had lived it (…) That something like that happens to a child will mark his personality and his identity, without a doubt.”

According to a study shared by Wired, an American magazine specializing in technology, in 2023 there will be a 54% increase in deep fakes non-consensual pronography. A survey published by ActiveFence on a dark web forum also revealed shocking figures: 80% of 3,000 respondents said they had used or intended to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to create images sexual abuse of minors.

Andrés Bustamante, artificial intelligence expert and founder of Automata.io , warns against the ease of creating fake videos or images. “Today it’s very easy to do deep fakes (…) You don’t need to know advanced technologies, you can learn just by watching a tutorial on YouTube,” he explains. “Not only will there be adults who attempt to make child pornography videos, but there will also be “There will be kids who do this to other kids to bother them and make them have a bad time.”

Bustamante places the responsibility on parents to avoid this type of crime. “They need to understand that it is their responsibility to limit the Internet,” he says. “They should teach their children about cybersecurity, that is, explain to them that they should not talk to strangers or share their number, email, passwords, address or personal data. They also need to be careful about links and downloads and, of course, when there is online harassment, they know how to report it.

To achieve this, Andrés suggests working conscientiously: “Children must understand the importance of privacy and how easy it is to do so. deep fakes. They also need to be aware of their digital footprint, meaning that everything they do on the networks will be saved until they grow up. This way they have more control over themselves.

The psychologist and the artificial intelligence expert agree that although it is important for children to be aware of the existence of deep fakes, before telling her that her photos could be used for sexual purposes, it is important to first have a conversation about sexuality. “You have to have a clear speech, because you can’t talk to him about deep fakes to the same child you tell about the stork,” says Bustamante. “When sexuality is understood in a healthy way, we can explain other things like child pornography,” adds Corcuera.

“While the tool can provide quick and easy answers to questions, it does not develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for academic and lifelong success.” » Thus Jenna Lyle, deputy press secretary for New York public schools, announced the ban on the use of Chat GPT in non-private establishments.

And his arrival did not go unnoticed. Thanks to the immense volumes of information available to Chat GPT, the artificial intelligence model has become a guide. How much is 16×58? Who conquered Chile? What poem can I dedicate to my mother? What is the best way to ask my partner for forgiveness? Cat GPT knows everything.

For this same reason, educational institutions viewed his arrival with suspicion; More than an ally, he appears as a threat. Far from collecting, analyzing and synthesizing information, students now have the opportunity to take a much shorter and simpler path thanks to the artificial intelligence model. What impact might this have on student learning?

“Absolutely, children’s analytical and critical capacity will be affected,” says Maribel Corcuera. “The best way for a human being to learn is from what excites him or what motivates him positively and from practice (…) When the activity is entrusted to you already done, no neuronal connection is generated, it’s like watching television. If I ask Chat GPT to explain the stages of the French Revolution to me, it is not the same as collecting information here and there (…) Children do not learn to learn, to create and to synthesize. (…) But on the other hand, artificial intelligence could, for example, be used by teachers to generate super interesting didactic elements to teach.”

Although the effects of artificial intelligence are debatable, what is undeniable is that it is here to stay. “Artificial intelligence, like any technology, is a tool and for this reason, ultimately, the responsibility always falls on whoever uses it to have the criteria to make good use of it,” explains Carlos Aspillaga, researcher at Cenia.

Corcuera emphasizes the importance of generating balance and compensating its use. “We can’t leave children out of technology, it’s impossible. The important thing is not that they use it, what matters is that they keep doing things. For this reason, Maribel recommends that children get physical activity daily, socialize in person with their friends a few times a week, and spend free time without cell phones. He also suggests removing electronic devices at least an hour before bed and exercising parental controls. to regulate the number of hours they can spend on social networks and the web pages they can access.