Khaberni - The Egyptian Parliament announced the actual start of actions towards preparing a draft law that sets regulations for children's use of applications and social media platforms, similar to international experiences, which have moved to restrict or ban the use of mobile phones for children until a certain age.
The council confirmed in a statement issued today, Sunday, that this direction comes within the framework of the state's recognition of the challenges faced by the children of Egypt, especially the psychological and behavioral risks resulting from the excessive use of applications and social media platforms, which may lead to digital addiction. It clarified that the state aims to prepare a conscious generation capable of prudent use of modern technology.
Digital chaos
The council referred to its intention to take all necessary constitutional and regulatory steps to study and approve legislation that regulates this file and limits what it described as "digital chaos" that negatively affects the behavior and future of children.
It revealed about organizing a broad societal dialogue through its specialized committees, to receive various views and proposals from relevant entities, primarily the government represented by the Ministries of Parliamentary Affairs and Legal Affairs, and Communications and Information Technology, alongside the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, and the National Council for Motherhood and Childhood, aiming to reach a precise legislative formulation that achieves effective protection for the Egyptian youth.
This parliamentary move comes after a call from the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to issue legislations that limit the use of mobile phones until a certain age.
El-Sisi said in his speech during the celebration of the 74th Egyptian Police Day, on Saturday: "I remind myself and the government and the parliament that the Australians and the British have issued legislation to limit phone use for certain ages or ban it, stressing that the goal is "not to protect a system or authority, but rather to protect the children from risks threatening their awareness and formation."
Protecting children does not contradict development
Meanwhile, Ahmed Badawi, the head of the Committee of Communications and Information Technology at the Parliament, in previous statements to «"Alarabiya.net" said that the president's proposal is an important step aimed at protecting children and preserving the cohesion of the Egyptian family.
Badawi clarified that the committee had coordinated with the members of the committee and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to hold extensive discussion sessions, exploring implementation mechanisms and execution methods, confirming that the execution mechanism is indeed available, and that several countries have been successful in implementing similar legislation.
He pointed out that this step does not conflict with technological development, but aims to protect children and the youth from the risks of violating applications, noting cases of children under the age of 14 who drifted into using dangerous applications, including online betting applications.
He added that the Communications Committee continues to coordinate with the government and legislative bodies to hold sessions that include specialists and representatives of the concerned entities, in preparation to reach a comprehensive legal formulation that achieves the public interest and protects future generations.
