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Safeguarding Children in India’s AI Future

The afternoon light in the bustling Chennai home often catches a glimpse of young minds, mesmerized by the glowing screens in their hands.

A five-year-old, Maya, intently traces shapes on a tablet, an AI-powered educational app narrating stories in a melodic voice.

Her innocent fascination, a mirror to millions across India, is heartwarming, yet it stirs a quiet unease in any discerning observer.

How deep does this digital influence run?

What unseen pathways are being etched into her burgeoning understanding of the world?

This daily scene, replayed in countless households, underscores a profound question: how do we ensure the boundless promise of artificial intelligence uplifts, rather than inadvertently compromises, the very children it seeks to engage?

In short: India is moving towards proactive AI governance to protect its children.

A roundtable led by the Institute for Governance, Policies and Politics (IGPP), featuring Dr. Syed Ali Mujtaba, aims to build child-centric AI policies that prioritize well-being, moving beyond risk identification to practical, ethical solutions.

The stakes could not be higher.

As AI systems weave themselves ever more deeply into the fabric of children’s lives, influencing what they see, learn, and experience online, the conversation has shifted.

It is no longer a matter of whether AI affects children, but how profoundly and with what consequences, as highlighted by the IGPP Invitation in 2026.

This is not just about screen time; it is about algorithmic bias, data privacy, mental health, and the very foundation of digital citizenship.

India, with its vast youth population, stands at a pivotal juncture, requiring thoughtful, human-first policy to harness AI’s potential responsibly.

Unpacking the Digital Dilemma: A Human-Centric View

The core problem is not AI itself, but rather the unguided deployment of powerful technologies into the most vulnerable hands.

We often focus on the marvels of AI, such as personalized learning and adaptive content, without fully grasping the subtle ways it can shape preferences, influence behavior, and even bypass critical developmental stages.

A counterintuitive insight here is that simply restricting access is not the answer; instead, thoughtful integration and design are paramount.

Consider the journey of an educational app.

Developers, often driven by innovation and engagement metrics, might unintentionally embed features that incentivize endless scrolling or introduce content without considering nuanced cultural contexts or potential psychological impacts.

For a child, what begins as a tool for discovery can slowly become an environment where their data is harvested, their attention commodified, and their development subtly steered in directions not always aligned with their best interests.

The challenge lies in creating digital spaces where children are empowered, not exploited, by the very technology designed to serve them.

What the Experts Are Saying: Insights into Child-Centric AI

The conversation around safeguarding children in India’s AI future is gaining critical momentum, drawing in leading voices committed to bridging policy and practice.

Dr. Syed Ali Mujtaba, a Chennai-based academic, journalist, author, and filmmaker, is one such eminent figure.

His extensive work in journalism, media training, and social empowerment, particularly advocating for skill-based education and vocational training for underprivileged children, positions him as a vital voice in this discourse, as noted by News Desk in 2026.

His participation is particularly relevant, acknowledged by his award at the Maeeshat Edupreneur Conference and Educational Excellence Awards in 2025.

The conference theme, Human Intelligence + Artificial Intelligence = The New Education Equation, highlights his recognized expertise at the crucial intersection of AI and education, directly correlating with the roundtable’s subject, according to the IGPP Invitation in 2026.

The implication is clear: real-world experience with child empowerment must inform theoretical policy.

The Institute for Governance, Policies and Politics (IGPP), a Delhi-based think tank, is driving this initiative.

As a body dedicated to translating ground realities into actionable policy, IGPP’s focus on social dimensions of digital ecosystems makes them uniquely positioned to lead this dialogue, reported by News Desk in 2026.

Their mission to provide research-based, people-centric policy solutions is crucial for shaping child-centric AI policies, ensuring that governance truly serves its intended beneficiaries.

This means policy must be built not just on technological capability, but on deep understanding of societal needs.

The IGPP invitation itself articulates the urgency.

As AI systems increasingly influence what children see, learn, and experience online, the question before us is no longer whether AI affects children, but how deeply and with what consequences.

The concern of their safety, rights, responsibility, and duty is impossible to ignore, stated the IGPP Invitation in 2026.

This powerful statement pushes the dialogue beyond merely identifying risks to actively focusing on what should be done across design, governance, and policy to ensure AI genuinely serves children’s well-being.

The practical implication is a shift from passive observation to proactive intervention in AI development and deployment.

Furthermore, the IGPP noted that Dr. Mujtaba’s name came up for consideration after a closed-door pre-event roundtable where experts candidly exchanged views on children and AI, as per the IGPP Invitation in 2026.

This structured, multi-stakeholder approach ensures that policy recommendations are robust, informed by diverse perspectives, and grounded in collective wisdom.

For practitioners, this emphasizes the importance of collaborative dialogue in shaping future-proof solutions.

A Playbook for Responsible AI for Children

Shaping a child-centric AI future requires a deliberate, multi-pronged approach.

Here are actionable steps businesses, policymakers, and educators can take today:

• Prioritize Child Well-being in Design: Integrate child development principles and safety standards from the outset of AI system design.

  This moves beyond mere compliance to proactive ethical considerations, ensuring AI genuinely serves children’s best interests, as advocated by the IGPP’s call to focus on what should be done across design in their 2026 invitation.

• Foster Digital Literacy and Critical Thinking: Equip children, parents, and educators with the skills to understand, navigate, and critically evaluate AI technologies.

  Dr. Mujtaba’s emphasis on skill-based education for empowerment, as reported by News Desk in 2026, perfectly aligns with building digital resilience.

• Implement Robust Data Privacy by Design: Ensure AI systems collecting children’s data adhere to the highest privacy standards, with clear consent mechanisms and anonymization protocols.

  Transparency about data use is non-negotiable for digital well-being.

• Promote Algorithmic Fairness and Bias Mitigation: Actively test and refine AI algorithms to eliminate biases that could disproportionately affect certain groups of children, ensuring equitable access and treatment across digital platforms.
• Establish Clear Governance and Oversight Frameworks: Policymakers should develop adaptive regulatory frameworks that keep pace with AI advancements.

  The IGPP’s work in bridging ground realities and policy formulation is a model for creating people-centric policy solutions, according to News Desk in 2026, crucial for AI governance in India.

• Support Multi-stakeholder Collaboration: Encourage ongoing dialogue between policymakers, academics, civil society, and industry, echoing the IGPP’s approach to bringing together diverse stakeholders for collective reflection and learning, as described in their 2026 invitation.

Navigating the Rapids: Risks, Trade-offs, and Ethics

The path to a child-centric AI future is not without its challenges.

Risks abound: data privacy breaches, exposure to inappropriate content, the exacerbation of digital divides, and the subtle manipulation of young minds through sophisticated algorithms.

We also face trade-offs, balancing innovation and accessibility with stringent safety measures.

Mitigation demands a constant ethical lens.

Companies developing AI for children must commit to rigorous ethical reviews, impact assessments, and independent auditing.

Policy must be dynamic, not static, allowing for rapid iteration as technology evolves.

Importantly, fostering a culture of responsible AI future among developers and educators is key, aligning with the IGPP’s call for a child-centered future in their 2026 invitation.

This means embedding ethical guidelines into training programs and professional development, ensuring that the human element of responsibility precedes the technological push.

Measuring Progress: Tools, Metrics, and Cadence

To ensure accountability and continuous improvement, we need clear benchmarks and regular evaluations.

Effective Measurement Tools

• AI Ethics Assessment Tools, which provide frameworks for evaluating AI systems against ethical principles like fairness, transparency, and accountability.
• Child-Centric Design Guidelines, such as UNICEF’s AI policy guidance for children, offer standardized frameworks for developers to integrate child safety and well-being.
• Additionally, Data Governance Platforms are crucial for managing data privacy, consent, and anonymization effectively.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Child-Centric AI

• Tracking child data privacy incidents, aiming for minimized or zero reported data breaches annually.
• Algorithmic bias scores should consistently show low bias across all demographic groups.
• Digital literacy rates should demonstrate a steady increase in critical AI understanding among children, measured through cohort-specific test scores.
• A Child Well-being Index, based on surveys of children’s digital safety and mental health, should show a positive trend.
• Finally, policy adoption and compliance rates for child-centric AI policies should aim for high adherence, such as 90 percent or more.

Policy and Practice Review Cadence

Policy and practice reviews should occur bi-annually at minimum, with urgent revisions as new technological developments or societal impacts emerge.

Multi-stakeholder roundtables, much like the one Dr. Syed Ali Mujtaba is invited to for child-centric AI policy discussions, should be convened annually to reflect, question, and learn collectively, shaping both policy and practice, as reported by News Desk in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary goal of the Safeguarding Children in India’s AI Future roundtable?

The primary goal of the Safeguarding Children in India’s AI Future roundtable is to move beyond merely identifying risks associated with AI for children.

Instead, it focuses on concrete actions in design, governance, and policy to ensure AI systems genuinely promote children’s well-being, according to the IGPP Invitation in 2026.

Who is Dr. Syed Ali Mujtaba?

Dr. Syed Ali Mujtaba is an acclaimed academic, journalist, author, and filmmaker from Chennai.

He is recognized for advocating for skill-based education and socio-economic empowerment of underprivileged children.

His expertise and recent award at a conference on AI and education make him a key voice in shaping child-centric AI policies, as detailed by News Desk and the IGPP Invitation in 2026.

What is the Institute for Governance, Policies and Politics (IGPP)?

The Institute for Governance, Policies and Politics (IGPP) is a Delhi-based think tank operating under the Vivek Manthana Foundation.

Its mission is to bridge the gap between ground realities and policy formulation, focusing on digital ecosystems, media, and other social dimensions to provide people-centric policy solutions, reported by News Desk in 2026.

When and where is the roundtable discussion scheduled?

The roundtable discussion is scheduled for February 17, 2026, in New Delhi, as announced by News Desk in 2026.

Conclusion: Crafting a Responsible Digital Tomorrow

The scene of young Maya, lost in her tablet, is not just a glimpse into today’s reality but a window into tomorrow’s promise.

Her digital world is rapidly expanding, and with it, the responsibility of those who shape it.

Dr. Syed Ali Mujtaba’s invitation to the important roundtable discussion represents a critical step forward, a collaborative effort to ensure that the wonders of AI are tempered with wisdom and guided by a deep empathy for our youngest citizens.

These are the conversations that truly matter, the ones that do not just debate policy but shape practice, forging a future where every child can thrive in a digital India that prioritizes their safety, rights, and holistic development.

The legacy we build today will define the experiences of generations to come.

References

• IGPP Invitation. (2026). Official Invitation Letter to Dr. Syed Ali Mujtaba.
• Maeeshat Edupreneur Conference & Educational Excellence Awards. (2025). Conference Theme.
• News Desk. (2026). Event Announcement for Roundtable Discussion.
• UNICEF. (2021). AI Policy Guidance for Children. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/innovation/reports/ai-policy-guidance-children
• NITI Aayog. (2018). National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence: AIforAll. NITI Aayog. https://niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2019-01/NationalStrategy-for-AI-Discussion-Paper.pdf
• The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). (2023). Digital India: A Policy Perspective. IAMAI. https://www.iamai.in/

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