KNUST Researchers launch AI tool ‘MindSafe’ to protect children from online threats
Date: 2026-02-04
By: Robert Kwaku Annor
Researchers
from the DIPPER Lab at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
(KNUST), Kumasi, have unveiled MindSafe, an AI-powered digital safety
tool aimed at protecting children and vulnerable users from cyberbullying,
online grooming, and other digital threats. The launch took place during the
two-day National Online Safety Summit at the Alisa Hotel in Accra.
Representing
the lab, MPhil researcher Esmond Adjei and research associate and designer
Russell Boateng Gyamfi detailed how MindSafe, developed in
collaboration with the Ghana Internet Safety Foundation (GISF), uses artificial
intelligence to detect, prevent, and respond to risky online behaviors in real
time.
Addressing
industry stakeholders, Mr. Adjei highlighted the growing misuse of technology
by online predators, emphasizing the need for proactive tools that adapt to
evolving digital threats. Mr. Gyamfi added that the app’s user interface was
designed with child safety as a central priority, ensuring an intuitive and
secure experience for users.
The
presentation also featured discussions on “AI and Emerging Internet Crime
Convergence,” underlining the importance of combining technology and design to
safeguard vulnerable populations in an increasingly digital world.
