On November 26, the press center of the Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency hosted the 4th Children’s Health and Safety National Forum. The event was held as part of the Decade of Childhood program and the Comprehensive Child Safety Strategy, both established by executive orders of the President of Russia. The forum’s central theme emphasized that children’s health and safety are the foundation of family, societal, and national well-being. The event brought together experts in child healthcare, representatives of public organizations, and government authorities.
Andrey Vorobyev, Director of the Coordination Center for TLD .RU/.РФ, participated in the session Preventing the Involvement of Minors in Extremist, Terrorist, and Other Criminal Activities and in Criminal Groups. He underscored the importance of collaboration between IT companies, universities, schools, and NGOs to prevent children from engaging in unlawful activities and shared insights into cooperation practices between major IT companies and NGOs. Joint efforts between IT companies and NGOs play a pivotal role in combating the spread of illegal online content. These organizations combine their expertise to develop and implement effective strategies for identifying and blocking harmful content, as well as educating users about potential threats. IT companies provide technical resources, expertise, and solutions while NGOs focus on awareness campaigns, teaching users – especially children and teenagers – responsible online behavior.
“Collaboration enables a comprehensive approach to countering unlawful activities online. For instance, under the CC Academy brand, we run several supplementary education programs, scientific competitions, internet governance courses, and many other awareness initiatives aimed at enhancing users’ critical thinking skills and understanding of online risks," noted Andrey Vorobyev.
The session also addressed various aspects of preventing minors' involvement in extremist activities. Sergey Tsapenko, Deputy Director of the National Center for Assistance to Missing and Exploited Children, highlighted the rising number of online crimes involving minors.
“Over recent years, there has been a significant increase in online crimes involving minors. In 2003, 157 such crimes were recorded, while by 2024, the number rose to 3,700. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, nearly 4,000 incidents were documented,” shared Sergey Tsapenko. “These statistics underscore the urgent need to strengthen preventive measures and protect children from online threats.”
According to Tsapenko, the rise in online crimes is driven by several key factors: the accessibility and anonymity of the internet facilitate recruitment and manipulation, allowing criminals to conceal their identities; adolescents’ underdeveloped critical thinking makes them vulnerable to deception; psychological vulnerability, excessive adult pressure, or peer rejection also play a role; and advancements in technology, particularly AI, complicate the detection and prevention of crimes.
Other session participants contributed by presenting their own initiatives in preventing unlawful online behavior. Vladimir Nikishin, Director of the Institute of Information and Media Security at Kutafin Moscow State Law University, introduced a professional retraining program titled “Specialist in Media Education.” Anna Rozhnikova, Chief Specialist of the Social Development Department at Russian Railways, discussed educational efforts within the Digital Portfolio for Teens: Conductor of the Railway Game Library project.
Elizaveta Belyakova, Chair of the Alliance for Child Protection in the Digital Environment, addressed current online threats to children and the need for stricter penalties for crimes involving the recruitment of minors.
Elena Artamonova, Deputy Director for the Development of Deviant Behavior Prevention Systems at the Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights and Interests, spoke about the psychological foundations of aggression prevention. Lyudmila Lagunova, Deputy Director of the Vadim Lednev Institute of Content and Teaching Methods, discussed historical education and worldview development. Maxim Kovalenko, a polygraph specialist and profiler, emphasized the importance of social intelligence and engaging children through educational techniques. Ellina Soroka, Chief Specialist of the Commission on Minors’ Affairs and Protection of Their Rights in the Gagarinsky Municipal District of Moscow, stressed the need for a holistic approach to prevention, accounting for children’s individual qualities.
A recording of the plenary session and several key discussions is available on the official VK channel of the National Assistance Center.
