“It takes a village to raise a child” is a proverb that has resonated around the world and through the ages. It is one of those truths that all societies hold to be self-evident, especially as the nature and scope of the challenges involved in raising children evolve with the times.
One such modern-day challenge is protecting minors from harmful online content, which requires a “village” to come together to tackle – be it vigilant parents, watchful teachers, digitally aware children or a responsible private sector. But this village also needs strong laws.
The ubiquity of the internet, the democratisation and decentralisation of online content creation, and the prevalence of malicious actors using novel means to target the unsuspecting make the creation of a regulatory framework vital.
Not only does it help the myriad stakeholders to organise their efforts, but it also provides the legal foundation needed to more effectively shield the young and the impressionable from online predation and inappropriate material.
These are considerations that require the development of strong guardrails. The UAE last Friday issued a federal decree law to this effect.
A comprehensive federal framework, the law mandates stricter privacy controls and responsible practices for digital entities operating inside the country. It also prohibits platforms from collecting, processing or sharing personal data of children under 13 without protections.
The question of instituting robust protective measures to ensure children’s safe digital expl
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