On 9 January 2026, the Child Digital Safety Forum was held in Abu Dhabi under the theme “Towards a Safe and Sustainable Digital Environment for Future Generations”. The forum’s core focus was on institutional and societal approaches to safeguarding children digitally.
The Forum also emphasized the importance of making efforts to consolidate communication and collaboration among institutions and to raise social awareness among the masses regarding the new legislation, as the UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 26 on Child Digital Safety comes into effect.
The second day of the forum was held through the virtual platform of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Academy. Sessions were conducted by Counsellor Hassan Al Hammadi, who serves as the Director of the Prosecution Administration in Abu Dhabi. The sessions examined children’s safety risks in the digital world, the positive role the government and social media platforms can play, and the legal and regulatory frameworks that should be implemented to ensure children’s safety in the digital space.
The Head of the Cyber Security Council of the UAE Government, Dr. Muhammed Al Kuwaiti, emphasized the most significant cyber challenges posing a threat to children in the cyber world. In his presentation titled “Cyber Security in the Digital Environment and Its Role in Child Protection”, he also highlighted the importance of laying the foundation for an integrated preventive system through the use of modern technologies, institutional coordination among relevant authorities, and supportive legislation.
The Vice Chairman of the National Human Rights Institution, Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, was also one of the participants at the Forum. She reviewed the human rights framework of the law and assessed whether it is in accordance with international conventions. She later concluded that the framework aims to strike a balance between children enjoying the digital space and safeguarding their rights in the digital world.
The Forum further explored the responsibilities of the digital world. Dr. Ahmed Abdel Zaher, Legal Adviser at the Technical Office of the Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, stated that legal frameworks are in place to ensure that platform operations and set mechanisms comply with national legislation, as well as to regulate the technical tools designed to protect children.
Dr. Mahmoud Muslim, journalist and member of the Egyptian Senate, also attended the Forum. He was of the view that there should be a shift from restriction-based policies to strategies that create digital awareness and build resilience among children and families. Moreover, he highlighted the role of education and media in facilitating this transition.
Colleen O’Toole, a former appellate judge and prosecutor in Ashtabula County, Ohio, stated that there should be legal accountability in cases involving artificial intelligence platforms when crimes against children are concerned. He stressed the need for mechanisms to ensure the protection of children’s rights amid rapid technological change.
The closing session was led by Dr. Sami Al Toukhy, Director of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Academy, who highlighted the urgent need to introduce the concept of “digital judicial sovereignty” to address cross-border cybercrimes. He stated that the new law establishes clear rules and regulations for digital platforms and consolidates the UAE’s position as a leader in child digital safety.
