Leaders in Paris to call for protecting children online

PARIS (AP) — Some world leaders and internet giants are expected to issue a global call to better protect children online during a Paris summit gathering about 30 heads of state and government, including U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris, the French presidency said.

“Protecting our children and teenagers online means taking them away from inappropriate or dangerous content, from violence, hatred and pornography,” French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted. He called on states, organizations and companies to “make concrete commitments for 2022" on the occasion of the Paris Peace Forum.

The Elysee said about 450 participants are expected at the three-day summit that opens Thursday, while 15,000 others will attend online. The summit brings together world leaders, CEOs, NGOs and others to discuss global issues such as climate, the COVID-19 pandemic and the digital transition.

Macron is to chair a session about children’s rights in the presence of Youtube CEO Susan Wojcicki and Amazon senior vice president Russel Grandinetti.

The call aims at making “joint commitments” on how to make the internet safer for children, a French official said. It will mark a “starting point” on taking concrete action including enforcing parental control on digital tools, protecting children from inappropriate content and preventing cyber-stalking, prostitution and child pornography, the official said.

Macron, Harris, EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will also attend another panel on regulating the digital domain, along with Microsoft president Brad Smith.

Children rights' advocates have for years urged internet giants to take action to better protect children.

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