Screens, Systems, and Safeguards: Online Harms, Artificial Intelligence, and the Governance of Children’s Digital Lives in ASEAN examines how AI, social media, and algorithmic systems are reshaping the online experiences and risks faced by children and young people across Southeast Asia.
The paper explores emerging harms including cyberbullying, deepfakes, online exploitation, and manipulative recommender systems, while analysing how governments are responding through new regulatory and governance frameworks.
Co-authored with Access Partnership Institute, the paper provides a comparative analysis of global policy developments alongside ASEAN-specific recommendations for safer, more accountable digital ecosystems. It brings together perspectives from policymakers, researchers, child safety advocates, and industry experts to support evidence-based discussions on the future of child online safety and AI governance in the region.
Key Findings
- AI-driven recommendation systems and generative AI are reshaping minors’ online experiences, amplifying harms such as cyberbullying, deepfakes, scams, and mental health risks.
- Governments are shifting from voluntary platform moderation toward stronger regulation, including age restrictions, safety-by-design obligations, and AI-specific safeguards for children.
- The paper argues ASEAN’s most effective path forward is coordinated regional action: harmonised standards, privacy-preserving age assurance, and shared AI safety governance grounded in child rights and evidence-based policy.