Blogs

How I learned to stop worrying and love the kill switch

3 mins read Early Years
I’ve just completed a cybersecurity course and I’m still recovering from the realisation that I was far more vulnerable than I ever imagined. Frankly, I could tip right into full-blown paranoia.
June O'Sullivan is chief executive of LEYF.
June O'Sullivan is chief executive of London Early Years Foundation - LEYF

The irony? So many of these shiny new AI tools we’re being sold are designed to help us stay compliant - tick the regulatory boxes, meet legal standards, keep data protected. Helpful, yes. But here’s the catch: the very tools meant to protect us may themselves be wide open to the kind of cyber-piracy they claim to prevent. It’s like fitting a burglar alarm and then leaving the back door ajar.

I now see cybersecurity like one of those battered treasure chests in Pirates of the Caribbean - brimming with gold coins. But in our world, those coins are data: your data, my data, everyone’s data. And the chest? It’s got a dodgy lock that can be prised open by any reasonably competent hacker armed with malware, ransomware or deepfake tools. AI, paired with biometric and synthetic tech, makes it even easier - because now the pirates don’t just steal the gold. They can look like you while doing it.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included

  • Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month

  • Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here


More like this