G7 Digital Ministers Agree on Principles to Protect Minors Online, Discuss AI Energy Demands

A Push Against Addictive Design

A key voice in the talks was the UN High Commissioner, who specifically called for a ban on the "micro-targeting" of children for commercial purposes. This practice involves sending highly personalized advertising based on a user's profile.

The High Commissioner also criticized "addiction-promoting elements" on platforms, such as incentives for endless scrolling, the automatic playback of videos, and constant push notifications from apps. He argued that "it is of little use to only restrict access to platforms that remain dangerous."

French Minister for the Economy Roland Lescure acknowledged the mixed nature of the discussions, saying that "as always with the G7, there are topics on which we agree, and others on which this is not the case."

Divisions on AI's Environmental Cost

While a consensus was reached on child protection, talks on the environmental footprint of digital technologies proved more difficult. A proposed working group titled "Impacts of digital technologies on the environment" was reportedly not acceptable to representatives from the United States.

Despite this, the final declaration noted that participants are aware that the development of artificial intelligence "will exert increasing pressure on electricity grids." Lescure added that everyone at least agreed that resources for AI should be used "as efficiently as possible."

Le Hénanff expressed hope that the representatives of the seven industrialized countries would agree on a common position for protecting children online, a goal that was partially achieved. However, she noted it was "very ambitious" to imagine concrete "measures from the United States" on the environmental track.

The outcome on the environmental issue was limited, but Le Hénanff pointed to a small victory, stating that an agreement was reached "that this topic must be discussed."