The organisation stressed that although manipulated images may be fake, the psychological and social harm they cause can be real and long-lasting. Creating or distributing fabricated sexual images of children is not harmless and may constitute a criminal offence.
When fake images cause real harm
Children targeted by manipulated images may experience humiliation, anxiety, isolation and fear of attending school. Offenders may also use such images for sexual extortion, threatening to circulate them unless children provide money, intimate images or comply with further demands. A child can become a victim of blackmail without ever having shared a photograph.
Safer sharing and parental involvement
Child Safety emphasised that protecting children does not mean preventing families from sharing photographs or using digital platforms. It advised parents to review privacy settings, limit access to personal images, and avoid sharing children’s schools, locations, or daily routines online.
Parents were also urged to remain involved in their children’s digital activities by understanding what they watch, post and share, whom they communicate with, and the content they receive.
Sudden behavioural changes, such as withdrawal, fear of school, or anxiety when receiving messages, may indicate a need for a calm, supportive conversation. The organisation stressed that children should be able to speak openly without fear of judgement or punishment.
Age-appropriate conversations, clear boundaries, application restrictions and parental controls can help reduce risks, but cannot replace parental involvement and trust.
Protection must come before blame
Dr Hanadi Saleh Al Yafei, Director General of the Child Safety Organisation, said that rapid technological advances placed greater responsibility on families and relevant institutions to raise children’s awareness of digital risks and strengthen their protection.
She stressed that fabricating or sharing children’s images to cause harm cannot be justified as a joke, given the potential psychological and social consequences.
When children experience harassment or blackmail, she said, the priority must be to protect them, stop the abuse and provide support in a safe environment where they can disclose what happened without fear of blame or punishment.
Dr Al Yafei reaffirmed that responsibility for abuse rests entirely with the perpetrator, and that children bear no responsibility for the abuse they suffer.
Reporting abuse and preventing further harm
The organisation outlined three initial steps to take when abuse is suspected: reassure the child without blaming them, refuse to comply with the blackmailer’s demands, and safely preserve relevant details before reporting the incident.
Parents were advised to remain calm, avoid responding to threats or acceding to blackmailers’ demands, and to report harmful content to the relevant platforms and authorities.
It also recommended retaining usernames, links and threatening messages, avoiding the downloading or forwarding of sexual content depicting children, and seeking official guidance on safely preserving evidence.
When classmates are involved, families should work confidentially with schools to prevent further harm and protect the child’s dignity, while seeking psychological support as needed.
Suspected child abuse or exploitation can be reported by calling 800700 throughout the UAE.
The organisation noted that using artificial intelligence to manipulate children’s images for the purpose of harming, defaming, threatening or blackmailing them may constitute criminal offences under UAE law.
Article 44(2) of Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Countering Rumours and Cybercrimes penalises altering or processing images to defame or harm others, with a penalty of at least one year’s imprisonment, a fine ranging from AED 250,000 to AED 500,000, or either penalty. Article 42 prescribes up to two years’ imprisonment and the same fine, or either penalty, for online blackmail or threats intended to compel someone to act or refrain from acting. In aggravated cases specified by law, imprisonment may extend to ten years.
The law also criminalises the production, publication and circulation of pornographic content involving children, depending on the nature of the act and the offence’s legal elements.
Child Safety called on families, schools and the wider community to promote responsible digital behaviour, keep pace with emerging risks and discuss online safety with children in ways appropriate to their age and understanding, ensuring they can benefit from technology without facing abuse in isolation.
————————————————
Source link
