ABU DHABI, Dec 26 (WAM/APP): The UAE government has issued a Federal Decree-Law on child digital safety, introducing a comprehensive legislative framework aimed at protecting children from online risks and promoting the responsible use of safe, age-appropriate digital content.
The new legislation aligns with the UAE’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of Family and reflects the country’s broader vision to safeguard children’s physical, psychological, and moral well-being across all environments, including the digital space.
The decree-law establishes an integrated governance framework that defines the roles and responsibilities of relevant authorities and ensures coordination among federal, local, and private-sector entities to protect children’s rights within the digital ecosystem.
It applies to internet service providers and digital platforms operating in the UAE or targeting users within the country. Covered platforms include websites, search engines, smart and messaging applications, online forums, gaming platforms, social media, live-streaming and podcast platforms, streaming and video-on-demand services, and e-commerce platforms. The law also places specific responsibilities on child caregivers regarding the digital safety of children under their care.
As part of the new framework, the decree-law establishes the Child Digital Safety Council, chaired by the Minister of Family. The council will serve as an advisory and coordinating body, proposing policies, legislation, and national strategies, launching awareness campaigns, and monitoring emerging digital risks amid rapid technological advancements.
The legislation introduces a national system for categorising digital platforms based on their risks and impact on children. This system sets regulatory standards for classifying platforms according to content, usage volume, and potential impact, while defining age-based controls and restrictions.
Under the decree-law, digital platforms are prohibited from collecting, processing, publishing, or sharing personal data of children under the age of 13, except under specific conditions. Platforms used for educational or health purposes may be exempted through a UAE Cabinet resolution, provided strict safeguards for child privacy and safety are maintained.
The law also outlines mandatory obligations for digital platforms, including default privacy settings, age-verification mechanisms, tools to enforce age restrictions, content blocking and filtering systems, age-rating measures, and regulations governing targeted online advertising.
In addition, platforms are prohibited from allowing children to participate in or access online commercial games involving gambling or betting activities.
Internet service providers are required to activate content-filtering systems and take measures to ensure safe and supervised internet use by children. This includes requiring guardians to agree to terms of service that mandate the use of parental control tools.
Child caregivers are obligated to monitor children’s digital activities, use parental controls, and refrain from creating accounts on platforms that are not age-appropriate or compliant with enhanced child protection standards.
The Ministry of Family, along with relevant local authorities, will develop programs and enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with the decree-law and its implementing regulations. The legislation also establishes a structured system for reporting harmful digital content, ensuring swift action against online abuse or exploitation involving children.
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