Lorenzin (PD), politicians should regulate minors' access to platforms ++ for Monday 4

"Ever younger children are falling into the clutches of generative artificial intelligence, with chatbots that behave like virtual friends: omnipresent, intrusive, indistinguishable from a real person. Best friend, artificial parent, a synthetic substitute that dispenses advice and encouragement, insinuating itself into children's daily lives. Hundreds of parents are reporting a disturbing and concrete situation." Beatrice Lorenzin, deputy president of the Democratic Party senators, wrote in a statement, continuing: "From the Meta wheel that recently appeared on our WhatsApp profiles to actual chatbots, an innovation that is changing everything, without us yet grasping its true significance. Given that parents are the first and most important control over the use of devices—and therefore of AI—the Guarantor has intervened, launching an investigation into abuse of a dominant position. But what are politicians and institutions doing?"

"I'll say it clearly: a bipartisan bill regulating minors' access to social media and digital platforms has been stalled in the Childhood Committee for over a year. This is unacceptable. Meanwhile, Meta has already entered Italian homes: it targets those children who have free access to its social media, fosters emotional dependence, and collects sensitive data. Moreover, in some of the reported cases, the AI interacted with the children knowing there was a child on the other side of the screen, so it's clear that the current regulations are neither sufficient nor effective," the Democratic Senator continued.

Artificial intelligence is moving faster than Parliament, and the business that drives it stops at nothing, not even childhood. We must act now, in the name of the precautionary principle enshrined in our legal system and the constitutional principles found in international conventions on children's rights. Urgent regulatory intervention is needed to limit access, define clear responsibilities, and offer concrete tools to families.

"Children must grow up with real relationships, not with bots trained to appear affectionate. But above all, awareness among families, educators, and institutions must grow regarding the concrete risks facing increasingly younger children. This is an ethical, educational, and democratic issue that affects us all," concludes Lorenzin.