UAE imposes strict limits on children's access to digital platforms

The United Arab Emirates has introduced sweeping restrictions on children's use of digital platforms, requiring companies to implement robust age-verification systems and limiting access to a wide range of online services for users under 15.

Under the new rules approved by the UAE cabinet, platforms that rely on user accounts, content sharing or algorithm-driven recommendations could fall within the scope of the law, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The measures may affect not only social media services such as Instagram and TikTok, but also streaming and entertainment platforms including Netflix, YouTube and Spotify.

Children under the age of 15 will be barred from using covered platforms, including accounts created under family subscriptions or supervised by parents, according to the regulations. Limited exemptions will apply to teenagers aged 15 and 16, though platforms will be required to restrict features such as livestreaming, group chats and recommendation algorithms for those users.

The regulations present significant technical and legal challenges for technology companies, which may need to deploy document checks, biometric verification and artificial intelligence-based age assessment tools to comply with the requirements.

Platforms have been given 12 months to adapt their systems and integrate them with the UAE's national verification framework. Authorities said companies that fail to comply could face penalties, including the suspension or blocking of their services in the country.

Parents who provide false information during age-verification procedures may also face administrative sanctions under the new rules.

By Aghakazim Guliyev