What are the biggest AI risks Unicef identifies for children?

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UNICEF identifies scam, misinformation, and sexual deepfake fears as the biggest AI risks for children
UNICEF says children face heightened risk from AI being used to scam and trick others or spread misinformation, with about one-third of children in 10 surveyed countries reporting such concerns. It also reports that around one-quarter of children fear their images or videos could be manipulated into sexually explicit deepfakes, and warns that many AI systems reach children “with no guardrails”, treating safety as an afterthought.
Children report risks of scams, tricks, and misinformation
UNICEF linked its warning to new data from 10 countries, saying a third of children surveyed were concerned about AI being used to scam and trick others or spread misinformation. The agency frames this as an exposure problem, noting that children can encounter how AI systems are designed and how their data is used, even as they have less power to avoid or challenge those systems.
Sexual deepfakes are a major fear for roughly one-quarter of children
UNICEF said about one-quarter of children fear their images or videos being manipulated into sexually explicit deepfakes. It highlights this as a key risk area tied to AI-enabled sexual exploitation, which it also points to when calling for stronger legal protections.
Weak governance leaves children exposed first and longest
UNICEF said children feel the effects of weak governance first and will live with the consequences the longest. The agency emphasised that children have far less power to avoid or challenge AI systems, which makes weak oversight and safeguards particularly consequential for them.
“No guardrails” safety gaps show up in how systems reach children
UNICEF warned that too many AI systems reach children with “no guardrails”, describing safety as something treated like an afterthought. It also called for safe and transparent AI design, alongside stronger laws against AI-enabled sexual exploitation, as part of addressing the risks children are already reporting.

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What are the biggest AI risks Unicef identifies for children?

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