Children and vulnerable people

Overview

When AI affects children or people who cannot easily protect their interests, the standard of care rises. Look at age-appropriate design, consent, content safety and the chance of harm that is hard to reverse.

Key risks

• Harmful content
• Profiling and manipulation
• Data collected without understanding
• Hard-to-reach complaint routes

What to do now

• Collect as little data as possible.
• Design for age-appropriate use.
• Test with the people affected.
• Give a simple route to a person.

Questions to ask

• Could children or vulnerable people use or be affected by this system?
• Have we assessed harms specific to them?
• What consent or notice is needed, and from whom?
• What safeguards limit harmful content or contact?
• Who can they turn to if something goes wrong?

Related tools

• Impact assessment builder

Region rules: EU · US · UK · India · Global standards.

Reviewed 3 Oct 2026. Sources: European Commission: AI Act overview.