Latest news with #DigitalWellbeingCouncil
Web Release
14-02-2025
- Health
- Web Release
Government and Private Organizations Come Together to Enhance Children's Digital Wellbeing
In line with the Year of Community, His Highness Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior and Chairman of the Digital Wellbeing Council; H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, along with H.E. Sana bint Mohamed Suhail, Minister of Family Affairs and ECA's Director General, witnessed the signing of the UAE Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact during the World Government Summit in Dubai. Today, there are serious risks to children's online safety and wellbeing. More than two hours of screen time per day increases likelihood of higher blood pressure and Type 2 Diabetes in children. Moreover, ~33% of children in the UAE reported being bullied online (2019). Within this context, t he Pact is designed to protect children online and it will do this by promoting a safe and appropriate online environment, minimizing exposure of children to harmful content and protecting children from cyberbullying. H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan said: 'Protecting children in the digital world is a shared responsibility that requires efforts between various sectors to ensure that we provide a space that balances freedom of access to information with ensuring the safety of children from electronic risks. More and more people are relying on technology in daily life so it has become necessary to establish clear frameworks and effective implementation mechanisms to protect children from harmful content and increasing digital challenges.' His Highness added that signing the Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact is in line with national efforts to promote a safe and balanced environment for children in the digital world, in line with the directives of the country's leadership. The efforts are aimed at building a sustainable digital society that takes into account the needs of future generations. The Pact, the first of its kind in the region, was facilitated by the Digital Wellbeing Council and the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, while the Office of International Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications office came onboard as strategic partners for the Pact. Moreover, numerous technology and content platforms, social media channels, internet and telecommunications service providers also came together and became members of the Pact. They are Snapchat (leading member of the pact for its first year), Meta, Google, TikTok, X, Yango, Samsung, e& and du. H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Office of Development and Martyrs Families Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, said: 'Protecting children and boosting their digital quality of life is a priority to us. Ensuring children's safety and well-being online directly contributes to building a secure and prosperous society that leverages technology positively. By providing a safe and stimulating digital environment that gives children access to information and educational resources securely, we empower them with greater opportunities to learn and innovate, away from risks associated with the misuse of technology.' Jawaher Abdelhamid, Regional Head of Public Policy for the Middle East and Africa at Snap Inc., said: 'At Snap, we share a deep responsibility to continually strive toward creating a safe experience for our users – particularly the youngest ones. As a reflection of this commitment, we feel proud to undertake a leading role in the development and execution of the UAE's first Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact and look forward to engaging meaningfully with governments, partners and parents on prioritizing the safety and privacy of young Snapchatters in the UAE.' By developing clear mechanisms to protect children from physical and psychological harm, as well as enhancing supervision of digital content targeting them, the Pact will enhance collaboration among various partners to ensure the highest standards of digital safety for children. The Pact also protects children's data, ensuring their privacy and safety within the digital ecosystem. This includes promoting transparency through continuous reporting and evaluation mechanisms according to global leading practices. It also focuses on developing effective strategies to reduce the promotion of harmful content, taking into account different age groups. Moreover, the Pact will support digital literacy programs and educational initiatives that equip children and their parents with the needed skills to browse safely online. The Pact will also facilitate the exchange of expertise and investment in research, to address the emerging risks posed by technological advancements. Finally, the Pact supports exchanging information on advanced technological methods that contribute to providing a safer online environment for children. This includes developing and using effective tools to verify the user's age before displaying content, establishing leading practices and strategies to enhance user privacy protection, with a particular focus on children's data, and ensuring full compliance with relevant data protection regulations. It also includes identifying incident response mechanisms and reporting protocols to address emerging cyber threats and immediately manage incidents affecting children. In addition, the Pact will help strengthen efforts to develop policies that enhance children's digital quality of life.
Khaleej Times
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
UAE: First-of-its-kind digital pact to protect children online
A first-of-its-kind children's digital wellbeing pact was signed by various authorities, companies and social media platforms in a bid to keep youngsters in the UAE safe online. From ensuring they know how to browse safely to protecting them from harmful content, the pact is designed to ensure children are protected. 'Digital literacy initiatives will be detailed with the pact members and could range between community-wide to school-based initiatives,' said Fatima Al Melhi, Director of Special Projects at Early Childhood Authority. 'We will be focusing on long-term collaboration to drive research and development initiatives, fostering innovation and continuous improvement in digital wellbeing strategies.' The UAE Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact, which was signed during the World Government Summit (WGS) 2025 in Dubai, is designed to promote a safe and appropriate online environment, minimising exposure of children to harmful content and protecting them from cyberbullying. A 2019 research showed that approximately 33 percent of children in the UAE have reported being bullied online. In line with the Year of Community, Lt-Gen Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, and Chairman of the Digital Wellbeing Council, stressed the importance of the pact. 'Protecting children in the digital world is a shared responsibility that requires efforts between various sectors,' he said. 'More and more people are relying on technology in daily life so it has become necessary to establish clear frameworks and effective implementation mechanisms to protect children from harmful content and increasing digital challenges.' Clear mechanisms The pact will develop clear mechanisms to protect children from physical and psychological harm, and enhance supervision of digital content targeting them. It will also protects children's data and ensure their privacy and safety within the digital ecosystem. This includes promoting transparency through continuous reporting and evaluation mechanisms and focuses on developing effective strategies to reduce the promotion of harmful content. The pact will also support digital literacy programmes and educational initiatives that help children and their parents with the needed skills to browse safely. It will also help the exchange of expertise and investment in research, to address the emerging risks posed by technological advancements. The pact will support exchanging information on advanced technological methods that contribute to providing a safer online environment for children, like developing and using effective tools to verify the user's age before displaying content. It also includes identifying incident response mechanisms and reporting protocols to address emerging cyber threats and immediately manage incidents affecting children. The aim of the pact is to develop policies that enhance children's digital quality of life. It was facilitated by the Digital Wellbeing Council and the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority. Strategic partners of the pact were the Office of International Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications. Social media platform Snapchat is the leading member of the pact for the first year while others like Meta, Google, TikTok, X, Yango, Samsung, e& and du also partnered for the pact.
Tahawul Tech
13-02-2025
- Health
- Tahawul Tech
Government and private organizations come together to enhance children's digital wellbeing
Abu Dhabi — In line with the Year of Community, His Highness Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior and Chairman of the Digital Wellbeing Council; H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, along with H.E. Sana bint Mohamed Suhail, Minister of Family Affairs and ECA's Director General, witnessed the signing of the UAE Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact during the World Government Summit in Dubai. Today, there are serious risks to children's online safety and wellbeing. More than two hours of screen time per day increases likelihood of higher blood pressure and Type 2 Diabetes in children. Moreover, ~33% of children in the UAE reported being bullied online (2019). Within this context, the Pact is designed to protect children online and it will do this by promoting a safe and appropriate online environment, minimizing exposure of children to harmful content and protecting children from cyberbullying. H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan said: 'Protecting children in the digital world is a shared responsibility that requires efforts between various sectors to ensure that we provide a space that balances freedom of access to information with ensuring the safety of children from electronic risks. More and more people are relying on technology in daily life so it has become necessary to establish clear frameworks and effective implementation mechanisms to protect children from harmful content and increasing digital challenges.' His Highness added that signing the Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact is in line with national efforts to promote a safe and balanced environment for children in the digital world, in line with the directives of the country's leadership. The efforts are aimed at building a sustainable digital society that takes into account the needs of future generations. The Pact, the first of its kind in the region, was facilitated by the Digital Wellbeing Council and the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, while the Office of International Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications office came onboard as strategic partners for the Pact. Moreover, numerous technology and content platforms, social media channels, internet and telecommunications service providers also came together and became members of the Pact. They are Snapchat (leading member of the pact for its first year), Meta, Google, TikTok, X, Yango, Samsung, e& and du. H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Office of Development and Martyrs Families Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, said: 'Protecting children and boosting their digital quality of life is a priority to us. Ensuring children's safety and well-being online directly contributes to building a secure and prosperous society that leverages technology positively. By providing a safe and stimulating digital environment that gives children access to information and educational resources securely, we empower them with greater opportunities to learn and innovate, away from risks associated with the misuse of technology.' Jawaher Abdelhamid, Regional Head of Public Policy for the Middle East and Africa at Snap Inc., said: 'At Snap, we share a deep responsibility to continually strive toward creating a safe experience for our users – particularly the youngest ones. As a reflection of this commitment, we feel proud to undertake a leading role in the development and execution of the UAE's first Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact and look forward to engaging meaningfully with governments, partners and parents on prioritizing the safety and privacy of young Snapchatters in the UAE.' By developing clear mechanisms to protect children from physical and psychological harm, as well as enhancing supervision of digital content targeting them, the Pact will enhance collaboration among various partners to ensure the highest standards of digital safety for children. The Pact also protects children's data, ensuring their privacy and safety within the digital ecosystem. This includes promoting transparency through continuous reporting and evaluation mechanisms according to global leading practices. It also focuses on developing effective strategies to reduce the promotion of harmful content, taking into account different age groups. Moreover, the Pact will support digital literacy programs and educational initiatives that equip children and their parents with the needed skills to browse safely online. The Pact will also facilitate the exchange of expertise and investment in research, to address the emerging risks posed by technological advancements. Finally, the Pact supports exchanging information on advanced technological methods that contribute to providing a safer online environment for children. This includes developing and using effective tools to verify the user's age before displaying content, establishing leading practices and strategies to enhance user privacy protection, with a particular focus on children's data, and ensuring full compliance with relevant data protection regulations. It also includes identifying incident response mechanisms and reporting protocols to address emerging cyber threats and immediately manage incidents affecting children. In addition, the Pact will help strengthen efforts to develop policies that enhance children's digital quality of life.
Emirates 24/7
13-02-2025
- Health
- Emirates 24/7
WGS: Saif bin Zayed witnesses signing of UAE Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact
In line with the Year of Community, H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior and Chairman of the Digital Wellbeing Council; Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, along with Sana bint Mohammed Suhail, Minister of Family and Director-General of Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA), witnessed the signing of the UAE Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact during the World Government Summit in Dubai. The current world landscape is witnessing serious risks to children's online safety and wellbeing. More than two hours of screen time per day increases likelihood of higher blood pressure and Type 2 Diabetes in children. Moreover, about 33 percent of children in the UAE reported being bullied online (2019). Within this context, the Pact is designed to protect children online, and it will do this by promoting a safe and appropriate online environment, minimising exposure of children to harmful content and protecting children from cyberbullying. H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan said, 'Protecting children in the digital world is a shared responsibility that requires efforts between various sectors to ensure that we provide a space that balances freedom of access to information with ensuring the safety of children from electronic risks. More and more people are relying on technology in daily life, so it has become necessary to establish clear frameworks and effective implementation mechanisms to protect children from harmful content and increasing digital challenges.' He added that signing the Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact is in line with national efforts to promote a safe and balanced environment for children in the digital world, in line with the directives of the country's leadership. The efforts are aimed at building a sustainable digital society that takes into account the needs of future generations. The Pact, the first of its kind in the region, was facilitated by the Digital Wellbeing Council and the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, while the Office of International Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications office came onboard as strategic partners for the Pact. Moreover, numerous technology and content platforms, social media channels, internet and telecommunications service providers also came together and became members of the Pact, mainly Snapchat (leading member of the pact for its first year), Meta, Google, TikTok, X, Yango, Samsung, e& and du. H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes' Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, said, 'Protecting children and boosting their digital quality of life is a priority to us. Ensuring children's safety and well-being online directly contributes to building a secure and prosperous society that leverages technology positively. By providing a safe and stimulating digital environment that gives children access to information and educational resources securely, we empower them with greater opportunities to learn and innovate, away from risks associated with the misuse of technology.' Jawaher Abdelhamid, Regional Head of Public Policy for the Middle East and Africa at Snap Inc., said, 'At Snap, we share a deep responsibility to continually strive toward creating a safe experience for our users - particularly the youngest ones. As a reflection of this commitment, we feel proud to undertake a leading role in the development and execution of the UAE's first Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact and look forward to engaging meaningfully with governments, partners and parents on prioritising the safety and privacy of young Snapchatters in the UAE.' By developing clear mechanisms to protect children from physical and psychological harm, as well as enhancing supervision of digital content targeting them, the Pact will enhance collaboration among various partners to ensure the highest standards of digital safety for children. The Pact also protects children's data, ensuring their privacy and safety within the digital ecosystem. This includes promoting transparency through continuous reporting and evaluation mechanisms according to global leading practices. It also focuses on developing effective strategies to reduce the promotion of harmful content, taking into account different age groups. Moreover, the Pact will support digital literacy programs and educational initiatives that equip children and their parents with the needed skills to browse safely online. The Pact will also facilitate the exchange of expertise and investment in research, to address the emerging risks posed by technological advancements. Finally, the Pact supports exchanging information on advanced technological methods that contribute to providing a safer online environment for children. This includes developing and using effective tools to verify the user's age before displaying content, establishing leading practices and strategies to enhance user privacy protection, with a particular focus on children's data, and ensuring full compliance with relevant data protection regulations. It also includes identifying incident response mechanisms and reporting protocols to address emerging cyber threats and immediately manage incidents affecting children. In addition, the Pact will help strengthen efforts to develop policies that enhance children's digital quality of life. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Zawya
13-02-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Government and private organizations come together to enhance Children's Digital Wellbeing
Abu Dhabi: In line with the Year of Community, His Highness Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior and Chairman of the Digital Wellbeing Council; H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, along with H.E. Sana bint Mohamed Suhail, Minister of Family Affairs and ECA's Director General, witnessed the signing of the UAE Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact during the World Government Summit in Dubai. Today, there are serious risks to children's online safety and wellbeing. More than two hours of screen time per day increases likelihood of higher blood pressure and Type 2 Diabetes in children. Moreover, ~33% of children in the UAE reported being bullied online (2019). Within this context, the Pact is designed to protect children online and it will do this by promoting a safe and appropriate online environment, minimizing exposure of children to harmful content and protecting children from cyberbullying. H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan said: 'Protecting children in the digital world is a shared responsibility that requires efforts between various sectors to ensure that we provide a space that balances freedom of access to information with ensuring the safety of children from electronic risks. More and more people are relying on technology in daily life so it has become necessary to establish clear frameworks and effective implementation mechanisms to protect children from harmful content and increasing digital challenges.' His Highness added that signing the Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact is in line with national efforts to promote a safe and balanced environment for children in the digital world, in line with the directives of the country's leadership. The efforts are aimed at building a sustainable digital society that takes into account the needs of future generations. The Pact, the first of its kind in the region, was facilitated by the Digital Wellbeing Council and the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, while the Office of International Affairs at the Ministry of Interior, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications office came onboard as strategic partners for the Pact. Moreover, numerous technology and content platforms, social media channels, internet and telecommunications service providers also came together and became members of the Pact. They are Snapchat (leading member of the pact for its first year), Meta, Google, TikTok, X, Yango, Samsung, e& and du. H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Office of Development and Martyrs Families Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, said: "Protecting children and boosting their digital quality of life is a priority to us. Ensuring children's safety and well-being online directly contributes to building a secure and prosperous society that leverages technology positively. By providing a safe and stimulating digital environment that gives children access to information and educational resources securely, we empower them with greater opportunities to learn and innovate, away from risks associated with the misuse of technology." Jawaher Abdelhamid, Regional Head of Public Policy for the Middle East and Africa at Snap Inc., said: 'At Snap, we share a deep responsibility to continually strive toward creating a safe experience for our users - particularly the youngest ones. As a reflection of this commitment, we feel proud to undertake a leading role in the development and execution of the UAE's first Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact and look forward to engaging meaningfully with governments, partners and parents on prioritizing the safety and privacy of young Snapchatters in the UAE.' By developing clear mechanisms to protect children from physical and psychological harm, as well as enhancing supervision of digital content targeting them, the Pact will enhance collaboration among various partners to ensure the highest standards of digital safety for children. The Pact also protects children's data, ensuring their privacy and safety within the digital ecosystem. This includes promoting transparency through continuous reporting and evaluation mechanisms according to global leading practices. It also focuses on developing effective strategies to reduce the promotion of harmful content, taking into account different age groups. Moreover, the Pact will support digital literacy programs and educational initiatives that equip children and their parents with the needed skills to browse safely online. The Pact will also facilitate the exchange of expertise and investment in research, to address the emerging risks posed by technological advancements. Finally, the Pact supports exchanging information on advanced technological methods that contribute to providing a safer online environment for children. This includes developing and using effective tools to verify the user's age before displaying content, establishing leading practices and strategies to enhance user privacy protection, with a particular focus on children's data, and ensuring full compliance with relevant data protection regulations. It also includes identifying incident response mechanisms and reporting protocols to address emerging cyber threats and immediately manage incidents affecting children. In addition, the Pact will help strengthen efforts to develop policies that enhance children's digital quality of life. About Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, established in 2019, promotes optimal child development and well-being, from the early stages of pregnancy to the age of eight. We influence policies, inform decision-making through research, incubate innovative ideas, all while enabling the Early Childhood Sector and navigating the impact it's making. We focus on Health and Nutrition, Child Protection, Family Support, and Education and Early Care. Our vision is that every young child can flourish to their full potential in a safe and family-friendly environment.
