Meta, the firm that owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, will convey to an Oireachtas committee on Tuesday the importance of app stores in carrying out successful age verification. This idea is part of a meeting focusing on safeguarding children in relation to artificial intelligence (AI) usage and will include insights from TikTok and X, formerly known as Twitter.
The meeting arises in the wake of a notice given by Tánaiste Micheál Martin to social media tycoons to remove underage children from their apps and in response to the Education Minister, Norma Foley’s continuous concerns over children accessing unsuitable content online.
Dualta Ó Broin, who is the Head of Public Policy in Ireland at Meta, will be addressing the committee members emphasizing that a substantial advancement in age verification must be achieved on a European scale. This, according to Ó Broin, will lead to parents verifying their child’s age just once thereby ensuring their child’s participation on all apps in-line with their age.
He will also express the opinion that the ideal procedure for this would be at the operating system or app store level, without shifting the management of age control from the app itself.
Furthermore, Ó Broin will dispute allegations that Meta finances harmful or hateful content to drive interaction in its platforms, mentioning AI’s prominent role in decreasing harmful content online. He will acknowledge AI’s strength in detecting phony accounts but point out its shortcomings in identifying bullying and harassment due to their contextual nature.
Lastly, the committee will hear from TikTok’s Head of Public Policy, Susan Moss, who will discuss the crucial role of AI in guaranteeing the wellbeing of over two million Irish TikTok users on a monthly basis.
The committee will be informed by her that every piece of content undergoes stringent moderation to promptly identify and manage any instances of potentially harmful content, at the same time as automated systems strive to thwart the appearance of offensive content on TikTok from the outset.
She’ll remark that the implementation and development of Artificial Intelligence within their systems have expedited the recognition and elimination of threats, enabling a thorough understanding of online behaviour, enhancing the efficiency, pace, and regularity of their action. She emphasises, this is crucially vital in ensuring the safety of teenagers.
Ms. Moss will express how the advent of new technologies often instigates apprehensions, triggering valid concerns about legal implications, privacy, and bias.
She will stress before the committee members the importance of collectively ensuring that AI lessens disparity and does not inadvertently fuel it.
[The age of social media touches 20. Why do we continue to falter so significantly? ]