Children facing 'very real danger' from rapid development of AI

The organisation said that while AI offers significant opportunities, the absence of robust safeguards risks leaving children exposed to harmful content, exploitation, and manipulation in online environments. File picture 

The Children’s Rights Alliance has warned that children are facing “very real danger” from the rapid advancement of AI technologies without sufficient regulation.

The alliance raised the warning as policymakers, experts, and political representatives gather in Dublin for a conference on AI and accountability on Wednesday.

The organisation is hosting the event to bring together political figures to examine the risks AI poses to children ahead of upcoming legislative debate on the Regulation of AI Bill in the Oireachtas.

A keynote address by digital policy expert Liz Carolan will highlight concerns about the pace of technological development and whether existing safeguards are sufficient.

Online safety co-ordinator Noeline Blackwell is expected to highlight what she describes as escalating levels of online harm involving children.

"AI technology itself is not the problem," said Ms Blackwell. 

"Its unregulated or lightly regulated use is. In the absence of a proper regulatory structure, we cannot identify those responsible or hold them to account when these risks become reality for children.”

The alliance provides a dedicated helpline that offers free, confidential legal information and advice regarding children's rights.

According to figures released by the organisation, it received 61,317 reports in 2025, with 54,603 relating to suspected child sexual abuse material.

Of these, 49,808 were confirmed and referred to law enforcement for removal action, representing a 10.8% increase on the previous year.

It also reported that 99.6% of assessed material was removed at source. A further 1,544 AI-generated depictions of child sexual abuse material were identified during the same period.

The group cited European Parliament Research Service estimates suggesting that around 98% of deepfakes are pornographic. It also pointed to projections indicating that approximately 8m deepfakes were circulated in 2025, up sharply from 500,000 in 2023.

Gaps in legislation

In advance of the Oireachtas debate on the Artificial Intelligence Bill, the Children’s Rights Alliance criticised what it sees as gaps in the proposed legislation.

It argues that it fails to explicitly recognise children as a vulnerable category and does not sufficiently address oversight responsibilities for key bodies tasked with enforcing digital protections.

The organisation said that while AI offers significant opportunities, the absence of robust safeguards risks leaving children exposed to harmful content, exploitation, and manipulation in online environments that are increasingly shaped by algorithmic systems.

It called for stronger legal frameworks that would ensure children’s safety is prioritised alongside innovation, warning that current approaches risk repeating earlier failures seen in the regulation of social media platforms.