Nicolae Iorga street, 2/1,
Tîrgu-Mureș
postal code: 540088
telephone:0265-250102;
0265-255554
e-mail: redactie@revcurentjur.ro
Year: 2026
Issue: 2
Volume: 105
Author Names: Mónika MERCZ
Abstract: Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping the digital environments in which children learn, communicate, and socialize. While AI-driven technologies create valuable opportunities for education, creativity, and online safety, they also expose children to risks such as harmful content, digital addiction, online grooming, and deepfake exploitation. This study examines the sociological, legal, and economic dimensions of AI-driven child protection through an interdisciplinary qualitative approach. It analyzes the impact of AI on children’s emotional development and online experiences, compares regulatory approaches in the United States and the European Union, and evaluates the role of trustworthy AI in content moderation and online safety. The article argues that effective child protection cannot rely solely on restrictive legislation. Instead, responsible AI governance requires a combination of legal safeguards, ethical corporate responsibility, digital literacy, transparency, and meaningful human oversight. Ultimately, the study concludes that AI should be understood as a dual-use technology capable of both harm and protection, whose societal impact depends largely on the ethical and regulatory frameworks governing its development and deployment.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.62838/cjjc-2024-0082
Pages: 71-86