Abu Dhabi: A new law for children’s online security has been implemented in the United Arab Emirates.
According to Arab media, a new Emirati Child Digital Safety Law has been enforced to protect children from internet dangers, under which parents will bear legal responsibility for their children’s digital activities.
Under the new UAE law, parents must monitor their children’s digital activities; parental responsibility is no longer limited to advice but is now a legal duty.
The new UAE law assigns parents the responsibility to keep watch over their children’s mobiles, tablets, and laptops and protect them from harmful content.
According to the new UAE law, a safe environment must be provided for children on social media platforms and online games; internet search engines and streaming services must also be made completely safe for children.
Under the provisions of the new UAE law, digital companies will also be responsible for providing security. Digital companies outside the UAE will also be responsible for providing a safe environment.
Age verification will be mandatory for children’s accounts. Filtering of digital content, parental controls, advertising bans, and screen time limits have been made compulsory.
UAE authorities state that monitoring of over 4,000 digital platforms is ongoing in the UAE, and 60 percent of children in the UAE have encountered inappropriate content.
UAE authorities have issued a warning that companies violating the law may face fines, restrictions, or service suspension in the country.
UAE authorities have urged parents to keep a strict eye on their children, asking them to protect children from online violence, blackmail, fraud, and immoral content.
