Jakarta, Aktualita.co — The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has reignited concerns regarding its impact on children and adolescents. Former Google security executive Tom Siegel has warned that the risks AI poses to children could be more serious than the problems previously associated with social media.
Siegel is a former Vice President of Trust and Safety at Google and a founder of the company’s trust and safety team. He believes the current AI industry risks repeating the mistakes made when social media grew rapidly without adequate protections for young users.
In an interview with Reuters reported by The Indian Express on Wednesday (September 23, 2026), Siegel argued that technology companies should not rely solely on internal oversight mechanisms.
“The idea that the industry will solve this on its own without outside help is unrealistic.”
This warning comes as various tech companies race to introduce increasingly sophisticated chatbots and AI features. This technology is now used not only to search for information but also to assist with homework, provide advice, act as conversational companions, and respond to users’ personal issues.
AI Risks Differ from Social Media
According to Siegel, one issue that requires attention is the relationship between users and AI systems, which is far more interactive than conventional social media.
Chatbots can provide direct and personal responses to user queries. For children and adolescents who lack emotional maturity or the ability to fully verify information, this condition can create new risks.
Siegel highlighted several scenarios that need attention, including mental health issues and what is known as cognitive offloading.
This term refers to the tendency of individuals to delegate more of their thinking processes to technology. If users become too dependent on AI for answers, there is concern that their ability to analyze, question information, and solve problems independently may diminish.
“I think we are looking at a very, very serious danger scenario,” said Siegel.
However, this statement is a warning about potential risks and does not mean that the use of AI automatically causes these impacts on every child.
AI also has benefits in education, creativity, and access to information if used appropriately with adequate supervision and literacy.
Pushing for Stricter Age Verification
One step Siegel is advocating for is the implementation of stronger age verification systems by AI companies.
He believes chatbot providers need to know whether a user is an adult or a child so that protection systems can be adjusted based on age.
Siegel also encourages the establishment of independent testing standards for AI products. He envisions a model similar to vehicle safety testing, where the risks of an AI service can be assessed more transparently before widespread use.
He has now joined Common Sense Media as the first executive director of the Youth AI Safety Institute. The institute was formed to research AI use by children and develop safety standards for tech companies.
Google responded to these concerns by stating that parents have control over their children’s access to search engines. The company also noted that AI features in Search can help children and adolescents learn and understand information.
Meanwhile, OpenAI stated that it uses a combination of age information provided by users, as well as account and behavioral signals, to identify underage users. The company stated that these systems are continuously tested and developed because no single age verification method is entirely perfect.
Indonesia Begins Tightening Child Protection in Digital Spaces
The warning regarding AI risks to children is relevant to Indonesia amid the increasingly widespread use of digital technology by students.
Indonesia already has Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 concerning the Governance of Electronic System Implementation in Child Protection, known as PP TUNAS.
This rule was further strengthened through the Minister of Communication and Digital Regulation Number 9 of 2026. This regulation, among other things, governs the classification of risk levels for digital products, services, and features, the obligations of electronic system providers, risk mitigation, oversight mechanisms, and the provision of child-friendly services.
The government also began implementing access delays for children under 16 to several digital platforms categorized as high-risk starting March 28, 2026.
Platforms mentioned by the government in the initial implementation phase include YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.
This policy primarily targets high-risk digital platforms. Therefore, its implementation cannot be immediately interpreted as a ban on all AI-based services.
Indonesian Pediatricians Also Warn of AI Risks
Concerns regarding the use of AI without supervision were also previously expressed by pediatrician Bernie Endyarni Medise.
In a statement published by the Ministry of Communication and Digital in March 2026, Bernie assessed that the challenges of AI technology are faced not only by children but also by adults.
One of the issues is the user’s ability to distinguish between correct information and false information generated or conveyed through AI systems.
This condition makes the role of parents, teachers, and digital literacy skills increasingly important.
As of September 2026, the government stated that approximately 28 million children have received protection through the implementation of various obligations under PP TUNAS. The government is evaluating the platform self-assessment process, verification of product and feature risk profiles, and the implementation of child protection measures by digital service providers.
The Next Challenge: Children Are Already Accustomed to AI
Regulation alone may not be enough to face the very rapid development of technology.
Generative AI has entered children’s learning spaces through search engines, educational apps, chatbots, smart devices, and various other digital services. Banning all use of such technology is not a simple solution because AI can also be a useful learning tool.
The main issue is how to ensure children understand that AI answers are not always correct, that they should not make chatbots the only place to seek advice, and that they maintain the ability to think and verify information independently.
The warning from the former Google security executive ultimately shows that the discussion on child safety on the internet is shifting. While previous attention was primarily focused on social media, harmful content, and device addiction, the development of AI presents new challenges because the technology can interact directly and increasingly personally with its users.
For Indonesia, the challenge now is not just to expand the use of AI, but to ensure that children can use the technology safely, critically, and in accordance with their developmental stages.
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