On October 8, as part of the Global Digital Forum in Moscow, the Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment hosted a business IT breakfast titled “Digital Childhood Without Borders: Best International Practices for Protecting Child Safety Online.” Representatives from government agencies, technology companies, and civil society organizations from Russia, Bangladesh, Brazil, and Ghana discussed national approaches to ensuring children’s online safety and the prospects for international cooperation.
The discussion centered on age restrictions, personal data protection, digital literacy, fraud prevention, and emerging risks associated with artificial intelligence. Participants presented practical solutions that are already being implemented across various countries.
“Over the past five years of the Alliance’s operations, we have become convinced that effectively protecting children cannot be achieved solely through the efforts of a single company or even an entire industry. Russia has accumulated substantial experience – from technological solutions to large-scale educational projects. Today, it is crucial to consolidate these practices and share them with international partners,” noted Elizaveta Belyakova, Chair of the Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment.
Ekaterina Larina, Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media of the Russian Federation, spoke about the government’s role in fostering a safe digital environment. “Protecting children in the digital space is primarily a parent’s responsibility. But the government must create the conditions that enable parents to fulfill that role. At the same time, legislative measures alone are not enough: corporate responsibility is crucial, and the Alliance is a prime example of such collaboration,” emphasized Larina.
Fakir Mahbub Anam Swapan, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology of Bangladesh, highlighted the need to update national legislation and unify the efforts of the government, the private sector, and civil society.
“Child safety in the digital space can no longer be the sole responsibility of parents or teachers. It is a shared responsibility of the government, technology companies, and society. Legislation matters, but without education and international cooperation, it is simply not enough,” emphasized the Minister.
“Our government has actively supported the Russian initiative to create a Global Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment. For South Ossetia, this is a matter of principle and a strategic step. The internet knows no national borders, and the threats our children face are identical to the risks facing children around the world. That is precisely why ensuring their safety is possible only by uniting the efforts of governments, the private sector, and civil society,” said Sarmat Bitiyev, Chairman of the Committee for Communications and Mass Media of the Republic of South Ossetia.
Yulia Shlychkova, Vice President for Public Affairs at Kaspersky Lab, spoke about emerging technological threats and the role of the private sector in ensuring children’s safety.
“We detect about half a million new cyber threats every day, and they affect children as well. Artificial intelligence makes social engineering tactics even more convincing. That is why legislative restrictions alone are not enough – advanced security technologies and education are essential.”
“Protecting children must not depend exclusively on a parent’s ability to monitor everything a child does online. Safety and privacy must be built in during the initial stages of digital product development,” noted Marcelo da Silva Costa, Technical Advisor for International Affairs at the Ministry of Communications of Brazil.
He presented Brazil’s experience in implementing the ECA Digital Law, adopted in 2025. The legislation enshrines the principle of safety by design and mandates age verification for users.
“Children in Africa must not only have access to the digital world but also possess the knowledge and tools to navigate it confidently and safely. Our common goal is for every child, whether in Ghana, Russia, or any other country, to feel safe online,” noted Awo Aidam Amenyah, Executive Director of Child Online Africa (Ghana). She also emphasized the importance of international cooperation and the exchange of proven strategies for protecting children in the digital space.
A key topic of discussion was the development of the Global Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment – an international initiative aimed at uniting governments, technology companies, and expert and civil society organizations to share expertise and implement joint projects.
“Digital threats know no national borders. At the same time, every country has its own effective solutions that can be beneficial to others. By creating the Global Alliance, we want to build a platform not only for exchanging best practices but also for launching joint projects. Our goal is to move from discussing problems to implementing concrete international initiatives,” emphasized Nina Fedorova, Head of International Relations at the Alliance for the Protection of Children in the Digital Environment.
As part of the event, the Alliance also presented the international children’s art exhibition, Art and Children: A World of Digital Wonders. Young artists from Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe participated in the project, presenting their own visions of technology, the digital world, and the future.
