Blockchain-Governed Consent Infrastructure for Cross-Border Digital Youth Protection in AI-Driven CDPs

Abstract

The proliferation of AI-driven Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) processing vast amounts of personal data poses significant risks to minors in cross-border contexts, where existing consent mechanisms fail to ensure verifiable, granular, and revocable consent. This paper proposes a novel Blockchain-Governed Consent Infrastructure (BGCI) specifically designed to address these challenges. Leveraging blockchain’s immutability for auditability, smart contracts for automated policy enforcement, and Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs) like Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) for privacy-preserving age verification, the BGCI provides a robust framework for managing minor consent across jurisdictions. We detail a comprehensive architecture, core technical mechanisms, and cross-jurisdictional conflict resolution logic. Integration pathways with AI/CDP data ingestion, model training, and real-time personalization pipelines are defined. Rigorous analysis addresses scalability, security, regulatory compliance, and ethical considerations. The BGCI represents a critical step towards ethical, compliant, and empowering digital experiences for youth in the global data economy.