UAE parents urged to step up online safety over AI-generated images used to bully and blackmail children
The Child Safety Organisation in Sharjah urged parents to stay involved in their children's online lives and report abuse, warning that fake images can cause lasting psychological harm. Artificial intelligence is making it easier to create fake explicit images of children, raising concerns about their use in bullying, harassment, exploitation and blackmail, the organisation said. The group,…
The Child Safety Organisation in Sharjah has warned UAE parents to be more vigilant about their children's online activities as artificial intelligence makes it easier to create fake explicit images of children. Such images can lead to severe psychological harm, including humiliation, anxiety, and social isolation, and can result in blackmail situations where offenders threaten victims for money or compliance. Even if a child hasn't shared explicit images, they can become victims of blackmail.
Parents are advised to monitor their children's digital lives, including the content they watch, post, and communicate with, and to maintain open conversations about these issues. Implementing age-appropriate rules and restrictions, as well as using parental controls, can help mitigate risks. The organisation emphasises that creating or sharing sexually explicit images of children is a criminal offence under UAE law, and those responsible should be held accountable.
If a child is suspected of being harassed or blackmailed online, parents should reassure the child, avoid giving in to threats, and safely preserve any relevant information before reporting the incident to the appropriate authorities.
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