Session
Organizer 1: Jasmina Byrne, 🔒UNICEF
Speaker 1: Jasmina Byrne, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Speaker 2: Emma Day, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Steven VOSLOO, Intergovernmental Organization, African Group
Speaker 4: Aki Enkenberg, Government, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Jasmina Byrne, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Jasmina Byrne, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Jasmina Byrne, Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Theater
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: Theatre format would better allow hybrid participation including those attendees who could not travel in person especially from the GlobalSouth. We'd like to ensure as global participation as possible. If this format is not possible than a roundtable format is the second option.
1. What do EdTech, FinTech and Neurotech and children have in common? 2. Where are EdTech, NeuroTech and FinTech for children headed in the next ten years, and what are the anticipated issues related to data governance? 3. How does child centered data governance of these emerging technologies relate to other child rights issues? 4. From the point of view of Children and child-rights, how can governments strike the right balance between rights-based regulation of new technologies and innovation. 5. How to enhance collaboration between data protection regulators government ministries responsible for these technologies, the private sector, and other stakeholders?
What will participants gain from attending this session? • An understanding of the current global trends in data governance for children related to EdTech, FinTech, and Neurotech • Examples from leading governments on how they approach data governance for children in the context of emerging technologies • Examples from two global south countries re EdTech and FinTech or Neurotech? • Insights into how all stakeholders can contribute to better data governance for children and how this can improve principles and practices around data governance more generally.
Description:
Data, if used responsibly, can address social problems and challenges for the world’s children, while offering tremendous potential for innovation. However, several complex obstacles stand in the way of better governance of children’s data. This session will consider the need for rights-based data governance for children across the three fields of education technology (EdTech), neurotechnology (NeuroTech), and financial technology (FinTech). Globally, EdTech has been at the forefront of innovations in education. Increased digitalization and advances in AI and machine learning have provided opportunities to improve educational outcomes for children, in support of SDG 4. Other innovative technologies such as NeuroTech are also increasingly being trialled in diverse settings. NeuroTech offers powerful opportunities for improving children’s health, in support of SDG 3, and optimizing education, in support of SDG 4. As part of ending poverty, SDG 1.4 requires access to appropriate economic resources, including new technologies and financial services. While children are traditionally unable to legally hold financial assets or carry out transactions without the consent of their parents, FinTech makes it possible for children to make unsupervised transactions. All of these innovative technologies have also created data-related risks, threatening children’s rights to privacy, to access information, and to freedom of thought. The rapid introduction of all these technologies into children’s lives has largely outpaced policy debates and regulatory frameworks. There can be uncertainty around the roles of the key stakeholders responsible, such as ministries of education, health, and finance, consumer protection authorities, and data protection authorities. During this session we will consider a series of examples of attempts to govern children’s data in EdTech, Neurotech and FinTech, and brainstorm a set of recommendations to improve data governance for children in relation to innovative technologies and drawing insights and conclusions for improving principles and practices around data governance generally.
UNICEF will take the findings from the session and write a follow-up article or blog post on the UNICEF website. The findings from this session will also inform the development of UNICEF led policy recommendations on data governance for EdTech, NeuroTech and FinTech which are all focus areas over the next two years.
Hybrid Format: o The moderator onsite will have a laptop next to her and will be supported by an offsite moderator who will feed her questions from the Zoom chat from the audience. The theatre setting lends itself to a screen behind the panel, and questions from the audience will be curated for online interventions. o The curation of questions from the online audience will be key and this will be managed by an online moderator. There will be a balance between in-person interventions and online participation, with a balance between all participants having the chance to engage. o We plan to use the chat function and video function of Zoom.
Report
Data Governance for Children in Emerging Technologies: A Comprehensive Overview
This discussion brought together child rights experts to explore the complex landscape of data governance for children in the context of emerging technologies, specifically focusing on EdTech, FinTech, and NeuroTech. The panel discussion was inspired by the UNICEF project on data governance for children which is funded by the Government of Finland. The panel, which included representatives from UNICEF and the Finnish Government, aimed to identify key challenges, opportunities, and future implications of these technologies for children’s rights and well-being.
Benefits and Risks of Emerging Technologies
The discussion began by acknowledging the potential benefits of these technologies for children. Emma Day highlighted the much discussed (but perhaps not yet proven) personalized learning opportunities offered by EdTech, such as adaptive learning platforms. She noted that there is still much debate about to what extent EdTech products do serve an educational purpose, and where such a purpose has been identified, it is also not yet really clear what benefits can be derived from the data that is processed by EdTech. Melvin Breton emphasized the role of FinTech applications in improving financial literacy from an early age, as well as in effectively managing social security, social protection benefits, and cash transfers. Aki Enkenberg noted the potential benefits of measuring cognitive processes to assess student’s behavior and support individual learning.
However, these opportunities were balanced against significant risks. Melvin Breton suggested that all of these new technologies can be thought of as double-edged swords. He cautioned against the potential for FinTech to manipulate children, such as by encouraging unnecessary purchases, and foster addictive behaviors through in-app purchases. Emma Day raised concerns about privacy and security risks associated with data collection, particularly as data breaches in educational settings, including at school and government ministry levels, are common around the world. Aki Enkenberg warned about the risk of unconscious influencing through neurotech, especially as it moves from the clinical field to consumer spaces.
Governance Models and Implementation Challenges
A key theme that emerged was the need for multistakeholder governance approaches to address the complex challenges posed by these technologies. Aki Enkenberg raised the significance of the recently approved Global Digital Compact, which prioritizes data governance on the global development agenda for the first time and promotes inclusive, multistakeholder dialogue.
Emma Day and Melvin Breton discussed the value of regulatory sandboxes as a means of fostering innovation while ensuring compliance with regulations. They explained that these sandboxes allow companies to test new products or services in a controlled environment, under the supervision of regulators, helping to identify potential risks and regulatory issues before full market deployment. Emma Day highlighted a new kind of multistakeholder cross-border regulatory sandbox model being pioneered by the Datasphere Initiative, which offers potential for greater representation of all stakeholders including civil society and children themselves within governance processes.
The discussion highlighted significant implementation challenges, particularly in EdTech. Emma Day noted that the main issue was not necessarily gaps in the regulatory framework, but rather difficulties in implementing existing regulations, particularly at the school level. She emphasized the importance of capacity building and support for educators and administrators.
The cross-border nature of many of these technologies was identified as a particular challenge, highlighting the need for international cooperation in governance approaches. Additionally, the panel discussed the digital divide and its implications for data governance in different parts of the world, recognizing that approaches may need to be tailored to different contexts.
Regulatory Frameworks and Gaps
While Emma Day emphasized regulatory implementation challenges in EdTech, Steven Vosloo suggested that existing laws may not fully cover new technologies, particularly in the realm of neurotechnology. He recommended that countries conduct policy mapping exercises to identify regulatory gaps in neurotechnology to help consider opportunities, risks, and emerging use cases.
Aki Enkenberg highlighted the challenge of regulating converging technologies that cross traditional regulatory boundaries. He also provided insights into Finland’s approach to data governance for children, which includes strong protections for children’s data and efforts to promote digital literacy.
Jasmina Byrne raised the issue of global fragmentation in regulation, emphasizing the need for more uniform data governance standards across different jurisdictions. Emma Day noted different approaches to enforcement, with some regulators taking a more collaborative approach with industry, while others opt for immediate punitive measures, stating that there are pros and cons to each course of action.
Future Developments and Challenges
Looking to the future, the panel identified several key trends and challenges. Aki Enkenberg and Melvin Breton both highlighted the ongoing convergence of different technology domains, with FinTech expanding into new areas such as gaming, the metaverse, and NFTs.
Steven Vosloo raised the possibility of a future divide between “treated, enhanced and natural humans” as a result of neurotechnology, highlighting potential equity issues that may arise from cognitive enhancement technologies.
Emma Day noted the geopolitical influences on EdTech development, highlighting the dominance of American and Chinese companies and European efforts to develop alternatives. This geopolitical dimension was seen as a crucial factor shaping the future landscape of educational technologies.
Jasmina Byrne emphasized the need to shape technology development with child rights in mind, calling for a holistic child rights approach when considering the future of technology and data governance for children.
Conclusions and Future Directions
The discussion concluded by emphasizing the importance of maintaining a balance between innovation and protection in future regulatory approaches. The panel stressed the need for adaptive governance models that can respond to rapidly evolving technologies while ensuring robust protections for children’s rights.
The panel identified several unresolved issues, including how to effectively regulate converging technologies, address global fragmentation in regulation, and incorporate child rights principles into technology development.
Emma Day mentioned UNICEF’s ongoing work to compile a compendium of case studies on innovations in data governance for children, including initiatives such as children’s codes, certification schemes, and regulatory sandboxes, amongst other regulatory tools being developed to address these complex challenges.
In conclusion, the discussion highlighted the critical importance of developing comprehensive, rights-based approaches to data governance for children in the context of emerging technologies. As these technologies continue to evolve and converge, ongoing dialogue and collaboration between diverse stakeholders will be crucial to ensuring that children can benefit from technological innovations while being protected from potential harms.