The Child Digital Safety Council has convened its inaugural meeting, laying the groundwork for a coordinated national framework to safeguard children and promote balanced development in the digital environment. The initiative brings together relevant entities under a collaborative structure designed to unify regulatory, policy and awareness efforts.
At the meeting, the Council defined its competencies and adopted a governance framework and operational mechanisms to clarify roles and responsibilities. The approach combines regulatory safeguards with awareness initiatives, in line with the Federal Decree-Law on Child Digital Safety.
Sana Suhail, Minister of Family and Chair of the Child Digital Safety Council, commented, “In line with the directives of our wise leadership to protect families and children, this meeting marks a pivotal step towards creating an integrated national framework. Our aim is not only to shield children from growing digital risks but also to empower them to harness the vast opportunities of the digital space, thereby strengthening family bonds and contributing to social prosperity.”
She added, “The Council is working to forge a genuine partnership between government entities, digital service providers, and the community to ensure a safe and thriving digital environment that contributes to building strong generations rooted in enduring national values. This serves as a genuine investment in the safety of future generations and the quality of their digital lives.”
A key outcome of the meeting was agreement to develop a national classification system for digital platforms. The system will assess risk levels, the nature of content and age suitability, while ensuring privacy protection, safe usage standards and the safeguarding of children’s digital rights.
The Council also prioritised social media platforms as its first focus area. This track will be studied further within approved regulatory frameworks to strike a balance between protection requirements, the responsibilities of digital service providers and the role of families in supervision and guidance.
Officials emphasised that digital safety requires a clearly defined distribution of responsibilities among service providers, caregivers and families. Awareness was identified as a central pillar of the framework, with plans to support campaigns, equip families with digital safety tools, promote children’s digital rights and encourage responsible online behaviour.
The outcomes of this phase will be submitted to the Education and Human Resources Council for review and approval to ensure alignment with broader national childhood and family policies.
The Council will continue its work through regular meetings and specialised workstreams in coordination with federal and local authorities and strategic partners, with the objective of establishing a comprehensive digital safety ecosystem that enhances child protection, supports families and promotes positive, responsible use of technology.
The meeting was attended by senior representatives from key government entities, including the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Prevention, National Media Authority, Federal Public Prosecution, Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, Community Development Authority in Dubai and the Child Safety Department in Sharjah.
The Council’s formation follows the establishment of the Ministry of Family in December 2024 under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Ministry is mandated to develop and implement policies, strategies and legislation aimed at strengthening family cohesion, reinforcing national identity and promoting positive societal values, while addressing challenges such as family stability and demographic sustainability.
