Experts have said the UAE government’s new digital safety law is a step in the right direction to better online safety for children.
The federal decree law establishes a national Child Digital Safety Council, to be governed by the Ministry of Family, and applies to internet service providers and digital platforms, whether operating within or targeting users in the UAE.
It also applies to anyone responsible for the care of children, including parents, redefining obligations regarding digital safety. The new law will be enforced through measures including age verification, content filtering, parental controls and restrictions on advertising aimed at minors.
It is especially relevant with today’s proliferation of AI-generated content, according to Eliad Kimhy, senior security researcher at cybersecurity and data protection software company Acronis.
“From a technology perspective, the sheer volume and velocity of digitally generated material introduces new risks around misinformation, manipulation and exposure to unsuitable material, particularly for younger users who may lack the tools to critically assess what they are seeing,” he said.
This is where structural change and robust regulations come in, but it is not about policies alone, Mr Kimhy added.
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