The Guido Fluri Foundation holds an annual gathering of former children in residential care and indentured children, as well as other victims of compulsory social welfare measures. At this year’s summer festival in Langenthal, Guido Fluri called for decisive action against child abuse, disinformation, and the misuse of AI online through the new “Internet Initiative.”
800 eyewitnesses were in attendance. The presence of Federal Councilor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider made it clear that Switzerland takes this dark chapter in its history seriously. For Social Affairs Minister Baume-Schneider, this annual gathering organized by the Guido Fluri Foundation has significance that extends beyond the day of the event: “Memories and wounds that one has long carried alone become lighter when one can share them. And collective remembrance also contributes to society: it keeps alive what must not be forgotten.” Switzerland has begun to come to terms with this chapter. But this requires patience and courage: “Coming to terms with the past is not a completed project. It is a process. It requires continuity, attention, and patience. Only if this process is sustained will the act of remembering also be sustained.”
The Bridge from Yesterday to Today
In his speech to those present, Guido Fluri drew a parallel between the successful “Reparations Initiative” and the recently launched “Internet Initiative,” which enjoys broad cross-party support. The Philanthropist reported on this. “The past century has shown us what silence, turning a blind eye, and institutional failure can lead to. The year 2026 will be judged by whether we turn a blind eye once again or whether we finally face the issue head-on,” Guido Fluri points out. And he warns about the digital dimension: “Millions of images of abuse are being circulated on the internet.” Behind each of these images lies the abuse of a child, and Fluri demands: “We must stop this! And we in Switzerland can stop it!”
Where is society looking?
Fluri has serious concerns because artificial intelligence can now be used to mass-produce hyper-realistic images of abuse. Furthermore, foreign governments are reportedly using social media platforms in a targeted manner to influence democratic processes. In his speech in Langenthal, Guido Fluri posed the central question: “Whether politics, society, schools, families, and technology companies are willing to prioritize the protection of children over convenience, indifference, and, above all, greed.” The “Internet Initiative” has collected 40,000 signatures since its launch three months ago. Fluri is determined: “We won’t let anything get us down when it comes to protecting our next generation.”
“Abuse is abuse—whether in real life or in the virtual world.”
