Under the patronage of Lt. General His Highness Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, the Ministry of Interior's Ramadan Councils concluded with their third and final episode in the thirteenth session, themed "Emirati society: authentic roots and global horizons."Organized by the Law Respect Culture Office in collaboration with the Security Media Department of the General Directorate for Security Support at the Ministry of Interior, the third session delved into the topic of "Digital Communities: Content and Interaction" across three key areas: fostering a culture of responsible engagement with interactive content, navigating the balance between freedom and boundaries in content creation, and promoting positive digital interactions as both a societal and institutional duty.
Al Bateen Council: Safeguarding National Achievements and Reputation
The Ministry of Interior Council, hosted by Al Bateen Council in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Councils within the Office of Citizens and Community Affairs in the Presidential Office, and moderated by media personality Faisal bin Hurri, featured the participation of distinguished figures including His Excellency Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defense, Interior, and Foreign Affairs Committee in the Federal National Council, and Major General Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, Inspector of the Federal National Council. Also in attendance were His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Jalal Al Raisi, Director General of the Emirates News Agency (WAM), His Excellency Khaled Mubarak Al Madhani, Head of the Federal Prosecution for Rumors and Cybercrimes, and Brigadier Sultan Buataba Al Zaabi, Director General of Community Protection and Crime Prevention.
The participants emphasized the critical need to enhance national awareness regarding the use of digital content, given the growing reliance on technology in our daily lives. They underscored the importance of fostering a safer and more responsible digital society by focusing efforts on raising awareness about evaluating information sources, protecting personal data, and promoting safe online behaviors. It was emphasized that competent authorities must collaborate to provide continuous educational and awareness programs targeting all segments of society, aiming to elevate national consciousness regarding digital content usage and advocate for the safe and responsible utilization of digital technology.
Abu Dhabi: Empowering Awareness Initiatives
In the council hosted by Dr. Juma Mohamed Al Hosani in Abu Dhabi and moderated by journalist Mohamed Abdul Karim, speakers emphasized the critical need to bolster awareness campaigns to tackle digital risks. They highlighted the positive impact of such campaigns in shaping the behavior of social media users, enhancing their online experiences, and mitigating risks such as exploitation, digital fraud, bullying, and the spread of misinformation.
Hassan Ahmed Al Hosani, Managing Director and CEO of Bayanat Company, Hamad Saif Al Riyami, a director and social media influencer, and Abdullah Saud Al Ameri, Senior Officer Responsible for Artificial Intelligence Strategy at Bayanat Company, were among the attendees who actively participated in the discussions.
Al Ain: Social Responsibility
At the Al Amerah Majlis in Al Ain, hosted by His Excellency Saif bin Mia Al Afari, and moderated by journalist Saud Al Kaabi, the speakers pointed out the necessity of continuing educational initiatives and awareness campaigns on the subject of digital life and social responsibility in order to promote the correct uses of the digital space and benefit from it and employ it in the service of society.
The council was attended and participated in by retired Major General Abdul Rahim Yousef Al Tamimi, a faculty member at Mohamed bin Zayed University for the Humanities, Brigadier Dr. Hamoud Saeed Al Afari, Director of the Community Police Department at the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters, Colonel Sultan bin Hadha Al Ketbi, Director of the Law Respect Culture Office at the Ministry of Interior, and Dr. Abdullah Suleiman. Al Hammadi, Chief Innovation Officer at the Ministry of Justice.
Dubai: Nurturing Positive Digital Conduct among Youth
At the Women’s Council in Dubai, hosted by Her Excellency Maryam Majid Bin Thaniah, Second Deputy Speaker of the Federal National Council, and its media director Ahlam Al Suwaidi, speakers emphasized the imperative of guiding young individuals towards responsible behavior in their digital lives. They advocated for the integration of educational materials focused on digital awareness and online safety into school curricula to better equip youth with the necessary guidance and protection against harmful content.
Participating in the council were Her Excellency Mona Khalifa Ahmed Hammad and Her Excellency Sarah Muhammad Amin Falaknaz, both Members of the Federal National Council, Lamia Ahmed Al Zaabi, Head of the Drug Prevention Department at the Ministry of Interior, Bakhita Ahmed Al Rumaithi, Executive Director of the Regional Center for Coexistence (Manara Centre), and Manal Ibrahim Haji, Director of the Security Media Department at the Dubai Police General HQs.
Ajman: Upholding Ethical Guidelines
In Ajman, at a council hosted by Omar Ahmed bin Omair Al Muhairi and moderated by journalist Mohamed Al Kaabi, speakers emphasized the importance of subjecting social media influencers' content to specialized committees prior to publication. This step ensures content reliability and positive impact, allowing these committees to offer guidance and feedback to ensure compliance with ethical and legal standards, and effective targeting of the intended audience.
The council saw the participation of His Excellency Marwan Obaid Al Muhairi, Member of the Federal National Council, His Excellency Mohammed bin Omair Al Muhairi, Colonel M Ali Ahmed bin Omair Al Muhairi, Nasser Saif Al Matrooshi, Ammar Abdul Karim Al Kayed, and Yousef bin Hassan Al Shamsi.
Umm Al Quwain: Ensuring Continuous Monitoring
At the Women’s Council in Umm Al Quwain, hosted by Maitha Abdullah Salem bin Yukha and moderated by media personality Amira Mohammed, speakers underscored the pivotal role of families in actively monitoring children's use of social networking sites. They emphasized the importance of safeguarding children from the various dangers present in the digital realm, including harassment, abuse, and exposure to inappropriate content. Parents were encouraged to select age-appropriate options and closely monitor their children's online activities.
The council witnessed the participation of distinguished figures such as His Excellency Sheikha Issa Al-Arri, former member of the Federal National Council, Dr. Asma Hamdan Al-Saadi from the University of Sharjah, Fatima Yaqoub Al Ali, Advisor to the Fatwa Department at the Ministry of Justice, Ms. Huda Mohamed Al-Hashimi, a former member of the Umm Al-Quwain Youth Council and a business development executive at Al-Ghurair Solutions, and Sheikha Salem Al-Dawish, Director of the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Unit at the Ajman Police General HQs.
Ras Al Khaimah: Ensuring Source Reliability
At the council in Ras Al Khaimah, hosted by His Excellency Suleiman Mohamed Al-Kayzi and moderated by media personality Mana Mohamed Al-Naqbi, attendees emphasized the importance of equipping social media users with critical thinking skills to assess digital content before sharing it. They stressed the significance of scrutinizing sources and verifying their reliability to prevent the dissemination of false or misleading information.Among the participants were His Excellency Rashid Al-Maftool, Member of the Federal National Council, Retired Brigadier General Mohamed Saeed Al-Humaidi, former Director General of Central Operations at Ras Al Khaimah Police, Colonel Abdullah Al-Ahimer, Director of the Penal and Correctional Institution at Ras Al Khaimah Police, Colonel Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim Subayan from the Federal Social Support Department at the Ministry of Interior, Colonel Dr. Nasser Mohamed Al-Bakr, Director of the Community Police Department at the Ras Al Khaimah Police General HQs, religious preacher Yousef Al Shehhi from the Ministry of Justice, and Dhia Mohamed Abdul Majeed, Director of Digital Channels at the Ras Al Khaimah Government Media Office.
Fujairah: Family's Vital Role
Speakers at the council in Fujairah, hosted by Saeed Sabeel Karam Al Dhanhani and moderated by journalist Hamid Jassim Al Zaabi, unanimously stressed the pivotal role of families in educating children about the benefits and risks of the digital world.
Participants included Brigadier Saif Rashid Al-Zahmi from the Fujairah Police General HQs, Major Dr. Hamad Mohamed Al-Zeyoudi from the Fujairah Police General Command, Dr. Obaid Saleh Al-Mukhtan from the Aftar Information Technology Consulting Foundation, Nasser Mohamed Jassim Al-Zaabi from the Ministry of Community Development, and Hassan Abu Al-Enein from the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments.