UAE Strengthens Child Online Protection with New Digital Wellbeing Pact

In a significant move aligned with the Year of Community, His Highness Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, alongside H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and H.E. Sana bint Mohamed Suhail, Minister of Family Affairs, witnessed the signing of the UAE Children’s Digital Wellbeing Pact at the World Government Summit in Dubai.

With growing concerns over children’s online safety, the new Pact aims to protect young users from cyberbullying, harmful content, and overexposure to screen time. Studies show that more than two hours of screen time per day can increase risks like high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes in children. Additionally, nearly 33% of children in the UAE reported being bullied online in 2019.

His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasized the shared responsibility of various sectors in protecting children in the digital world. He stated, “As technology becomes integral to daily life, it is essential to establish clear frameworks to protect children from online risks while allowing them freedom to access information.”

The UAE Children’s Digital Wellbeing Pact is the first of its kind in the region, developed by the Digital Wellbeing Council and the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, with key strategic partners including the Ministry of Interior, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, and the AI, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications office. Major tech and social media platforms, such as Snapchat, Meta, Google, TikTok, and others, have also joined the Pact as members, committing to enhancing digital safety for children.

H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, highlighted the importance of safeguarding children’s online experiences. He stated, “By providing a secure digital environment, we empower children to learn and innovate, free from the risks of misuse.”

The Pact outlines mechanisms to protect children from both physical and psychological harm online, focusing on safe digital content and robust privacy protection. It aims to increase collaboration among partners to ensure the highest standards of child safety, promoting transparency through continuous reporting and global best practices.

The initiative also includes supporting digital literacy programs to equip both children and their parents with safe browsing skills, enhancing research on emerging technological risks, and implementing tools to verify user age and strengthen privacy measures. With this groundbreaking Pact, the UAE is setting a global standard for protecting children’s digital wellbeing.

By advancing these goals, the UAE is not only safeguarding its future generations but also ensuring that technology contributes positively to society’s overall development.