UNICEF Policy Guidance on AI for Children (2021)
UNICEF's Policy Guidance on AI for Children (2021), developed with the Government of Finland, provides nine requirements for child-centred AI systems. The guidance addresses: AI systems used by children, AI systems used about children (affecting children's lives), and AI systems developed by or with children. Nine requirements: support children's development and wellbeing, ensure inclusion of and for children, prioritise fairness and non-discrimination, protect children's data and privacy, ensure safety for children, provide transparency and accountability, empower governments and businesses with AI knowledge for children, prepare children for AI developments, and create an enabling environment. Endorsed by 40+ countries and referenced by OECD and IEEE.
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Framework Domains (12)
Accountability
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| UNICEF-AI-CR-08 | Independent Oversight and Redress for Children |
Child Well-being and Development
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Req.1.1 | Support Children's Development and Well-being |
| Req.1.2 | Best Interests of the Child |
| Req.1.3 | Age-Appropriate Design |
| Req.2.1 | Ensure Inclusion of and for Children |
| Req.2.2 | Accessibility |
Child-centred requirement
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| UNICEF-AI-01 | Support Children's Development and Well-Being |
| UNICEF-AI-02 | Ensure Inclusion of and for Children |
| UNICEF-AI-03 | Prioritise Fairness and Non-Discrimination for Children |
| UNICEF-AI-04 | Protect Children's Data and Privacy |
| UNICEF-AI-05 | Ensure Safety for Children |
| UNICEF-AI-06 | Provide Transparency, Explainability, and Accountability for Children |
Cross-cutting
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| UNICEF-AI-CR-01 | Alignment with the Convention on the Rights of the Child |
| UNICEF-AI-CR-02 | Age-Appropriate Design and Default Settings |
| UNICEF-AI-CR-03 | Caregiver Oversight and Parental Controls |
| UNICEF-AI-CR-04 | Participation of Children in AI Design |
| UNICEF-AI-CR-05 | Special Protection for Children in Vulnerable Situations |
| UNICEF-AI-CR-06 | Data Use for Profiling and Recommendation Systems Affecting Children |
Data Privacy and Safety
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Req.4.1 | Protect Children's Data and Privacy |
| Req.4.2 | Parental and Guardian Consent |
| Req.5.1 | Ensure Safety for Children |
| Req.5.2 | Risk Assessment for Child Safety |
Ecosystem
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| UNICEF-AI-07 | Empower Governments and Businesses with Child-Centred AI Knowledge |
| UNICEF-AI-08 | Prepare Children for Present and Future Developments in AI |
| UNICEF-AI-09 | Create an Enabling Environment for Child-Centred AI |
Empowerment and Enabling Environment
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Req.7.1 | Government and Business Knowledge Empowerment |
| Req.7.2 | Regulatory Capacity Building |
| Req.8.1 | Prepare Children for AI Developments |
| Req.8.2 | Child Participation in AI Governance |
| Req.9.1 | Create an Enabling Environment |
Fairness and Non-Discrimination
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Req.3.1 | Prioritize Fairness and Non-Discrimination |
| Req.3.2 | Bias Assessment and Mitigation |
| Req.3.3 | Equitable Outcomes |
Implementation Guidance
Practical implementation for stakeholders
Operations
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| UNICEF-AI-CR-09 | Continuous Monitoring of Child-Centred AI Outcomes |
Procurement
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| UNICEF-AI-CR-07 | Procurement and Supplier Due Diligence for Child-Facing AI |
Transparency and Accountability
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Req.6.1 | Transparency for Children |
| Req.6.2 | Explainability |
| Req.6.3 | Accountability Mechanisms |
| Standard 4 | Transparency |
| Standard 5 | Detrimental Use of Data |
| Standard 6 | Policies and Community Standards |
Your Compliance Coverage
If you comply with UNICEF Policy Guidance on AI for Children (2021), you already cover:
OECD AI Principles
15%
6 controls mapped
Compare →IEEE 7000
15%
6 controls mapped
Compare →China AI Regulations
15%
6 controls mapped
Compare →+ 482 more: ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics (15%), Canada Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA) (15%)
See all 485 mapped frameworks ↓Maps to 485 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UNICEF Policy Guidance on AI for Children (2021)?
UNICEF Policy Guidance on AI for Children (2021) is a compliance framework from International (UNICEF) with 12 domains and 41 controls. UNICEF's Policy Guidance on AI for Children (2021), developed with the Government of Finland, provides nine requirements for child-centred AI systems. The guidance addresses: AI systems used by children, AI systems used about children (affecting children's lives), and AI systems developed by or with children. Nine requirements: support children's development and wellbeing, ensure inclusion of and for children, prioritise fairness and non-discrimination, protect children's data and privacy, ensure safety for children, provide transparency and accountability, empower governments and businesses with AI knowledge for children, prepare children for AI developments, and create an enabling environment. Endorsed by 40+ countries and referenced by OECD and IEEE. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does UNICEF Policy Guidance on AI for Children (2021) have?
UNICEF Policy Guidance on AI for Children (2021) has 41 controls organised across 12 domains. The largest domains are Child-centred requirement (6 controls), Cross-cutting (6 controls), Transparency and Accountability (6 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does UNICEF Policy Guidance on AI for Children (2021) map to?
UNICEF Policy Guidance on AI for Children (2021) maps to 485 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are OECD AI Principles (15% coverage), IEEE 7000 (15% coverage), China AI Regulations (15% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
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