UAE Enacts New Law to Safeguard Children Online and Limit Harmful Content
Through a comprehensive federal law, the United Arab Emirates has taken a significant step towards the digital safety of minors. The new law channels a wide range of children’s interests and behaviors in the online and social media domains, covering even the most controversial topics such as e-commerce and gaming. Reinforcing the law, Child Digital Safety Council has been established to be the guiding force of the UAE’s Minister of Family.
It is the new authority that will plan and supervise the protection of children’s rights in the digital world, both in public and private sectors. The council will also take the initiative in proposing legislation, running campaigns to educate the public, and monitoring the emergence of new digital threats along with technological advancements.
One of the major provisions of the law relates to the collection of children’s personal data by the platforms and it imposes strict restrictions. Digital services that are either located in the UAE or targeting customers in the UAE shall not, with very few exceptions, collect, process, publish, or share personal information of children under 13 years. Such exceptions are made only for educational or health purposes when thoroughly safe guarding is demonstrated.
Apart from data protection, the law also places restrictions on minors’ access to online gaming and betting sites, regardless of age. This includes the use of age verification and blocking measures as part of compliance requirements.
Among the many requirements subsisting the mentioned legislation are the platforms’ activating privacy settings defaulted to children and the installation of such by the providers. They should also implement and present age-appropriate tools like content filters and parental controls, which are clear and understandable. Guardians are required to sign the terms and conditions that are safety-oriented and will thus, determine the extent of supervision over their children’s digital schooling.
Internet service providers are among the players in this game and they too, are obliged to do the same. Specifically, they will have to introduce content filtering methods to safeguard underage users on their networks. These changes mean that there is a further layer of protection being formed in addition to the one formed by the different platforms.
In making the move, the UAE government is drawing a parallel between its focus on families and well-being and its declaring that 2026 will be the Year of Family. Moreover, it goes beyond social media and includes all digital platforms, which are search engines, e-commerce, and instant messaging and streaming services as well.
The issue of children’s safety on the internet is now a concern at the federal government level. The law provides a clear-cut division of the responsibilities among the authorities and the children’s guardians. Protection of the child is the whole responsibility of the caregivers, who will have to monitor the child’s online activities and utilize parental controls. The platforms will have to meet the age verification and safety requirements.
The UAE has joined the club of countries that are laying down the law against digital child abuse with this move. It is hoped by the authorities that the law will not only limit children’s access to bad content but also ensure that an online space is created that is friendlier for young users.
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