OSINBAJO URGES TECH FIRMS TO PROTECT CHILDREN ONLINE

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on technology companies to take greater responsibility for protecting children from risks associated with digital platforms.

Osinbajo made the call in Cairo, Egypt, while chairing a session on child rights and accountability in digital technology at the 16th Annual Conference of the Pan African Lawyers Union.

He argued that children and parents should not be left to bear the main responsibility for dealing with risks created by digital products and platforms.

According to him, technology companies should design their products with safety measures built into them from the beginning, rather than expecting families to manage the consequences.

Osinbajo said the goal should not be to prevent children from accessing technology but to create digital environments that protect their safety, dignity and development.

The discussions at the session focused on concerns including harmful content, exploitation, manipulation, excessive data collection and other risks affecting children online.

Participants, including lawyers, judges, regulators, policymakers and child-rights advocates from across Africa, considered proposals covering safety-by-design requirements, age-appropriate platform design, algorithmic accountability, data protection and privacy-conscious age verification.

Osinbajo stressed that Africa needs an approach that balances children's rights, technological innovation and accountability.

The discussions are expected to contribute to a draft Cairo Declaration aimed at strengthening legal and regulatory protections for children in the digital age.