Movement on AI issue

In the last week, there have been a flurry of announcements about banning under-16s from accessing AI chatbots and social media. The premier and education minister of Manitoba announced plans to ban AI chatbots and social media, starting in classrooms. BC’s attorney general Niki Sharma followed this by asking the Federal government for stronger legislation on AI companies.

After two years of educators, researchers and parents sounding the alarm on the harmful effects of AI chatbots, it is encouraging to see governments finally talking about taking action. If put into place, age verification for chatbots may help to reduce the harm done to students.

However it is not without its drawbacks.

Solution with a fallout

Any age restriction laws would require that all users prove their age. All users have to upload their ID to the companies that are contracted to provide verification. From a privacy perspective, this is concerning. When a similar age-verification system was implemented for the popular chat application Discord, a cyber attack led to 70,000 users’ photo IDs being leaked.

A simpler solution 

A directive by the Ministry of Education and Child Care would be far easier to implement than age verification, and would preserve privacy.

When students were distracted by cell phones in classrooms, and their learning suffered, the Ministry of Education and Child Care enacted a policy to restrict cell phones in classrooms. They can and should do the same with AI chatbots.

If you feel the same, please take a minute to sign the petition to the Ministry of Education and Child Care.

The featured image is by Kathryn Conrad.