The IV Latin American Safeguarding Congress in Lima, Peru, set to explore AI challenge to safeguarding children online 

LIMA, Peru (AP) — From February 25 to 27 leading experts in the digital environment will gather in Lima, Peru, to take part in the IV Latin American Safeguarding Congress. 

Following last year’s edition in Panama that focused on the concept of vulnerability and abuse, this year the Congress organizers CEPROME have decided to highlight “Artificial Intelligence and Sexual Abuse: A New Challenge for Prevention”. 

Over the course of three days IT experts, cybercrime specialists, leaders, academics, pastoral agents, and organizations from across the continent will discuss the opportunities and challenges new technologies present in the fight against online child abuse.  

Ines Franck, President of CEPROME and consultant to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, says the Congress aims to create a unique interdisciplinary dialogue space, showcasing innovative research and effective strategies to build safer and more protective environments for children and adolescents online.  

A primary objective is also to foster awareness and encourage investigation into AI-related abuse risks.  

“Like any tool, AI needs to be used within ethical parameters. Helping to make these parameters explicit would also be one of the results that we would like this Congress to have” adds Franck. 

“In the Church in Latin America we were still preparing to respond to less sophisticated online abuse. Abuse through AI places us in an even more complex situation that we must try to include in our safeguarding policies. It will be arduous, I understand, but this is a start to incorporating this issue.”

Franck also emphasizes how one of the greatest risks is that minors, being the most adept at using AI, are also the most vulnerable to its dangers.  

“The biggest risk is the fact that it is the minors who most naturally handle AI. Therefore, adults have to learn to speak this new language to be able to protect them and, like all new learning, it takes time. And it leaves minors more vulnerable to people of bad faith who want to take advantage of them.”

For the first time, it will feature the “Expo Buenas Prácticas,” highlighting international initiatives, successful projects and cooperative networks committed to prevention.  

The opening session, scheduled for February 26 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. in the Aula Magna, will include remarks from representatives of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, the Order of St Augustine, and CEPROME Latin America.  

For more information about the IV Latin American Safeguarding Congress, visit the official website at congreso.cepromelat.com.