The Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan hosted the spouses of the visiting NATO leaders at a round table discussion themed "Children, Technology and Security: Protecting the Next Generation" on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8.
Erdogan greeted each of the visiting leaders' spouses individually upon their arrival at the Cankaya Palace.
Brigitte Macron, French President Emmanuel Macron’s wife, said that France is trying to limit screen use in schools as much as possible.
Macron said, "For example, what you read on a screen doesn't have the same effect on our brains as what you read in a book. Why are we limiting these things? Because we have realised certain things. Because these are not the same form of teaching. We don't want (children) to be exposed to screens at an early age."
Macron noted that children are exposed to fake videos that "can deceive everyone," adding, "We need to address the world of tomorrow today. The problem is before us. We are observing its development. And we need to tame it."
Touching upon the use of artificial intelligence, Macron said that in France students are told to be careful in their career choices, saying, "We tell them to choose their profession accordingly. There is very rapid development. There is apprehension. We really can't figure out where it's going right now."
Diana Nausediene, the wife of the President of Lithuania, stated that everyone agrees that the virtual world must be safe for children, adding that children must be protected against cyberbullying, disinformation and hybrid manipulation.
Nausediene emphasised that policymakers must act together with communities, stating, "We are facing a fundamental challenge, and we need international efforts."
Noting that NATO allies should come together to protect younger generations against hybrid manipulations, Nausediene stated that young people are "the most vulnerable group to disinformation."
The Finnish President's wife, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, said that the digital world offers significant benefits and that young people use social media to stay connected, socialise, learn, and access information.
Innes-Stubb drew attention to the dangers associated with the spread of disinformation, stating that for many children, the digital world is "part of daily life" and that more children are joining this world every minute.
