Abu dhabi: The UAE government has announced the issuance of a Federal Decree-Law focused on child digital safety, establishing a legislative framework to shield children from online risks and foster the responsible use of age-appropriate digital content. This initiative aligns with the UAE's designation of 2026 as the Year of Family and is part of a wider vision to protect and enhance the quality of life for children in all environments.
According to Emirates News Agency, the new legislation seeks to protect children from digital content and practices detrimental to their physical, psychological, and moral well-being. It introduces a governance framework that specifies the roles and responsibilities of relevant authorities, ensuring coordination and integration to safeguard children's rights in the digital landscape.
The decree-law applies to internet service providers and digital platforms operating within or targeting users in the UAE. Platforms covered by the law include websites, search engines, smart applications, messaging applications, forums, gaming platforms, social media, streaming services, and e-commerce platforms. It also imposes obligations on those caring for children, defining their responsibilities for digital safety.
Additionally, the decree-law establishes the "Child Digital Safety Council" in the UAE, chaired by the Minister of Family. This advisory body aims to facilitate integration among federal, local, and private entities to ensure children's digital safety. The council's functions include proposing policies and strategies, launching awareness campaigns, and conducting studies to monitor emerging digital risks.
This legislative move, backed by a UAE Cabinet decision and the Education, Human Development, and Community Development Council, introduces a system for categorising digital platforms based on their risk and impact on children. It outlines regulatory standards for classifying platforms according to type, content, usage volume, and impact, setting controls and restrictions on platform use by different child age groups.
The decree-law prohibits digital platforms from collecting, processing, publishing, or sharing the personal data of children under 13, except under specific conditions. However, platforms used for educational or health purposes may be exempt, subject to a UAE Cabinet resolution, ensuring the protection of children's safety and privacy.
The legislation mandates digital platforms to adopt various measures to protect children from harmful digital content. These measures include default privacy settings, age verification mechanisms, tools to enforce age restrictions, and systems to block or filter inappropriate content. Digital platforms are also prohibited from allowing children to participate in online gambling or betting activities.
Furthermore, the decree-law outlines obligations for internet service providers, such as activating content filtering systems and ensuring safe, supervised internet use by children. Child caregivers are required to monitor their digital activities, use parental control tools, and refrain from creating accounts on non-compliant platforms.
The Ministry of Family and local child affairs authorities are responsible for developing programs to ensure caregivers meet these obligations. The legislation also regulates the mechanism for reporting harmful content, ensuring swift action against online abuse or exploitation of children.