Authorities and partner organizations today launched in Chisinau the national campaign titled Lets Use Artificial Intelligence Safely. The initiative aims to protect children in the digital environment and promote the responsible use of AI based technologies.
At the event, Minister of Labour and Social Protection Natalia Plugaru said the campaign focuses on informing children, supporting parents and teachers, and encouraging open dialogue within families about digital safety.
“We live in a world where technology advances faster than our ability to fully understand it, and artificial intelligence has become part of everyday life. That is why we are launching this campaign. Children’s safety is non negotiable. Safety no longer refers only to physical space, but also to the digital environment, an invisible yet extremely present space in every child’s life. Artificial intelligence is neither good nor bad by itself. Everything depends on how we use it. As adults, we must provide children not only with access to technology, but also with skills, moral criteria, and protection,” Natalia Plugaru said.
The minister presented data from a survey conducted among students in Moldova. The survey shows that 88 percent of children use artificial intelligence, and more than 60 percent use it frequently, either daily or several times a week. Officials also highlighted the growing number of cases involving AI generated child sexual abuse material. In 2025, the SIGUR Online Hotline registered 147 reports of such cases, with about 40 percent involving AI generated content.
During the campaign launch, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Research Valentina Olaru said the education system must respond to the challenges created by artificial intelligence through coherent policies, sustainable measures, and evidence based interventions.
“In recent years, we strengthened the regulatory and curricular framework so that schools can systematically develop digital skills and critical thinking. We also integrated online safety education into the learning process. At the same time, we invested in teacher training and built functional inter institutional partnerships to support schools in developing digital skills. We adapted educational policies to real conditions so that everyone who interacts with artificial intelligence can face current challenges. When it comes to artificial intelligence and children, we do not speak about bans, but about responsible educational integration. Schools must provide clear guidelines on the ethical use of technology so that it supports learning, stimulates creativity, and complements student effort without replacing independent thinking, discernment, and learning autonomy,” Valentina Olaru said.
State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization Misele Iliev stressed the importance of strengthening online security mechanisms and modern authentication tools.
“We can no longer treat online safety in a fragmented way. We need a digital shield. The E Governance Agency already works on a digital wallet as an additional login or authentication element for online platforms. This solution, identified at the European level, aims to limit access to social networks for children below the permitted age,” Misele Iliev explained.
The General Police Inspectorate reaffirmed its commitment to combating cybercrime, including cyberbullying and the abusive use of personal data. Deputy head of the Inspectorate Alexandru Lupan emphasized the need for vigilance and awareness of online risks, ranging from exposure to inappropriate content to manipulation and disinformation.
The International Center La Strada of Moldova organized the national campaign Lets Use Artificial Intelligence Safely in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, and the General Police Inspectorate.
The International Center La Strada has operated in Moldova since 2001 and remains one of the main organizations promoting child online safety and combating digital violence. Moldova also marks Safer Internet Day every year as part of the European initiative Together for a Better Internet.