Dubai: In line with the Year of Community, H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior and Chairman of the Digital Wellbeing Council; Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, along with Sana bint Mohammed Suhail, Minister of Family and Director-General of Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA), witnessed the signing of the UAE Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact during the World Government Summit in Dubai.
According to Emirates News Agency, the current world landscape is witnessing serious risks to children's online safety and wellbeing. More than two hours of screen time per day increases likelihood of higher blood pressure and Type 2 Diabetes in children. Moreover, about 33 percent of children in the UAE reported being bullied online in 2019. Within this context, the Pact is designed to protect children online, and it will do this by promoting a safe and appropriate online environment, minimizing exposure of children to harmful content, and protecting children from cyberbullying.
H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasized that protecting children in the digital world is a shared responsibility that requires efforts between various sectors to ensure that a space is provided that balances freedom of access to information with ensuring the safety of children from electronic risks. He noted the increasing reliance on technology in daily life and the necessity to establish clear frameworks and effective implementation mechanisms to protect children from harmful content and digital challenges.
He added that signing the Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact aligns with national efforts to promote a safe and balanced environment for children in the digital world, following the directives of the country's leadership. These efforts aim at building a sustainable digital society that considers the needs of future generations.
The Pact, the first of its kind in the region, was facilitated by the Digital Wellbeing Council and the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, with the Office of International Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications office as strategic partners. Numerous technology and content platforms, social media channels, internet, and telecommunications service providers also joined as members of the Pact, including Snapchat (leading member for the first year), Meta, Google, TikTok, X, Yango, Samsung, e, and du.
H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes' Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, stated that protecting children and boosting their digital quality of life is a priority. Ensuring children's safety and well-being online directly contributes to building a secure and prosperous society that leverages technology positively. By providing a safe and stimulating digital environment, children are empowered with greater opportunities to learn and innovate, away from risks associated with the misuse of technology.
Jawaher Abdelhamid, Regional Head of Public Policy for the Middle East and Africa at Snap Inc., commented on Snap's commitment to creating a safe experience for users, particularly the youngest ones. She expressed pride in undertaking a leading role in the development and execution of the UAE's first Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact and looked forward to engaging with governments, partners, and parents on prioritizing the safety and privacy of young Snapchatters in the UAE.
The Pact develops clear mechanisms to protect children from physical and psychological harm, and enhances supervision of digital content targeting them. It enhances collaboration among various partners to ensure the highest standards of digital safety for children. The Pact also protects children's data, ensuring their privacy and safety within the digital ecosystem, promoting transparency through continuous reporting and evaluation mechanisms according to global leading practices.
Moreover, the Pact supports digital literacy programs and educational initiatives that equip children and their parents with the needed skills to browse safely online. It facilitates the exchange of expertise and investment in research to address emerging risks posed by technological advancements. The Pact supports exchanging information on advanced technological methods that contribute to a safer online environment for children, including developing effective tools to verify user age before displaying content, enhancing user privacy protection, and ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.
The Pact identifies incident response mechanisms and reporting protocols to address emerging cyber threats and manage incidents affecting children. Additionally, it strengthens efforts to develop policies that enhance children's digital quality of life.