09.02.2026 | 2 Images

Safer Internet Day 2026: AI chatbots as a security risk in the everyday lives of children and young people

G DATA CyberDefense shares five tips for the international awareness day
Safer Internet Day 2026
Safer Internet Day 2026 © Free for editorial use

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Under the international guiding principle “Together for a better internet”, Safer Internet Day will take place on 10 February 2026. Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbots have long become part of everyday life for many children and young people: they help with homework, answer questions and increasingly take on the role of conversational partners and advisers. AI companions simulate closeness, understanding and trust and from an IT security perspective, this is precisely where the risks lie. On the occasion of Safer Internet Day, G DATA CyberDefense provides parents with five tips on how to raise awareness among their children about the risks associated with AI chatbots.

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They are available around the clock, respond empathically and often appear surprisingly human: generative AI chatbots. On Safer Internet Day on 10 February 2026, the focus turns to the responsible use of digital technologies in the everyday lives of young people. AI bots are increasingly assuming the role of a trusted confidant. However, this trust quickly becomes a security risk when highly sensitive data is disclosed, such as psychological stress, health-related issues or family conflicts. Many systems are still insufficiently regulated, and data protection standards remain inconsistent. If access credentials fall into the wrong hands, unauthorised third parties may gain insight into the concerns and problems of young people at a particularly sensitive stage of their development.

“Many people underestimate the fact that AI chatbots are not neutral conversational partners, but data-processing systems”, says Tim Berghoff, Security Evangelist at G DATA CyberDefense. “Children and young people are often not aware that chatbots do not possess ‘real’ understanding like humans do, but merely generate the statistically most probable response. Anyone who uses chatbots as a ‘digital confidant’ is entrusting a system with highly personal information. Every interaction involves the transfer of data to third parties – with potential consequences for privacy and security.”

Five tips to protect children from the risks posed by AI chatbots
1. Talk openly about AI chatbots: Explain to your child that AI bots are not real friends, but programs that merely simulate closeness. Talk openly about why these conversations can still feel very personal.
2. Sensitive data is off-limits: Intimate thoughts, health issues, photos or private conflicts do not belong in AI chats. Once entered, information can be stored, analysed or reused.
3. AI responses are not facts: AI chatbots may sound convincing, but they can also be wrong. Make it clear that AI is not a reliable source for medical, legal or personal decisions and that information should always be verified.
4. Put deepfakes and AI-generated content into context: Show your children how easily AI can be used to create content that appears deceptively real. This helps them understand why not everything that sounds friendly, empathetic or persuasive is necessarily trustworthy.
5. Agree on clear rules for use: Agree together on when and for what purposes AI chatbots may be used – for example, not at night or not for personal problems. Clear rules provide guidance and reduce risks without banning use altogether.

What is Safer Internet Day?
Safer Internet Day (SID) takes place every year in early February and promotes greater safety and responsibility in the digital world worldwide. Its aim is to support children and young people in using digital technologies safely, independently and competently. The awareness day thrives on the commitment of a wide range of stakeholders – from institutions and companies to associations and private individuals – together for a better internet.
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With holistic cyber defence services, G DATA CyberDefense makes you defensible against cybercrime. The renowned IT security company protects with AI technologies, endpoint protection, security monitoring and offers penetration tests, incident response and awareness training in order to secure companies in the best possible way.

G DATA CyberDefense AG supports its customers in every security situation. From the headquarters in Bochum, more than 550 employees ensure the digital security of companies, critical infrastructures such as hospitals or airports as well as millions of private users. With almost 40 years of expertise in malware analysis, G DATA has become a top player in the cybersecurity world and conducts research and software development exclusively in Germany. This also applies to service and support, which is available around the clock for customers all over the world. G DATA security solutions are available in more than 90 countries and have received numerous awards from independent test institutes.

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Safer Internet Day 2026
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G DATA Security Evangelist Tim Berghoff
G DATA Security Evangelist Tim Berghoff
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(1) Vera Haake
Vera Haake
Leitung Unternehmenskommunikation / Head of Corporate Communications

+49 234 9762 - 376
vera.haake@gdata.de