Hiba Khan: Children Should Not Feel Vulnerable in the Digital World
At the Second Global Digital Forum in Moscow, experts from different countries are working to establish cooperation on digital safety.
One area of international cooperation is protecting children online, including safeguarding their personal data, preventing cyberbullying and improving digital literacy. Hiba Khan, a representative of an independent private consulting agency in Pakistan, signed an agreement at the forum aimed at protecting children’s rights and personal data in the digital environment. She spoke to the IT Russia media platform about why technology solutions must account not only for technical considerations but also for the internet’s impact on children’s well-being.
– I represent an independent private consulting agency. Our agreement is aimed at protecting children’s rights and personal data. Adults often forget what children encounter in the digital environment when using various apps and platforms. That is why digital literacy and protection against cyberbullying, online abuse and harassment are especially important to us.
Children can be targeted by anonymous users, which poses a serious risk. We need to make sure they do not use platforms that fail to provide an adequate level of safety. This requires dialogue, the development of strategies and an appropriate legal framework. We must address this challenge at the international level.
When it comes to technology platforms, the focus is often on technical aspects, while the human and humanitarian dimensions take a back seat. But platforms are more than just IT solutions. We must remember the people who use them and how technology affects their lives.
Children should not feel vulnerable. We need to consider their psychological well-being and how their interactions with the digital environment affect their lives. In my remarks at the forum, I stressed that children are still children, and we have a responsibility to care for them.
We have a project focused on protecting children’s mental health and safeguarding their rights in the digital environment. I would be glad if we could share information about it with our partners. It is important to make use of the resources available so that our experience and ideas can reach as many interested people as possible.
