Khaberni - Lara Al-Khatib, the President of the Board of Commissioners of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, confirmed that the cabinet's decision to form the national committee to protect children and adolescents from risks associated with the use of social media platforms and the internet reflects the Kingdom's keenness to protect society from growing digital challenges. She indicated that cybersecurity has become an essential part of the national security system, and dealing with these risks requires a collective and clear methodological response.
Al-Khatib said in a press release on Wednesday: "At the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, we prioritize the protection of children and adolescents, and we will provide all necessary regulatory and technical tools to ensure a safe and balanced digital environment, in cooperation with all partners from the public and private sectors. This committee represents a strategic step towards building an integrated national system that enhances safe and responsible internet use, and confirms that Jordan is seriously and consciously dealing with digital challenges."
She added: "The formation of the national committee sends a clear message that the Kingdom is committed to enhancing digital space security and protecting its users, and that national efforts will continue in developing policies and programs that ensure safe and responsible internet use aligning with the best global practices and enhancing Jordan's position in this vital field, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to providing a safe and balanced digital environment, allowing children and adolescents to benefit from the opportunities provided by modern technology without being exposed to its risks."
The Minister of Government Communication and the government spokesperson, Mohammad Al-Momani, announced that the cabinet approved the formation of a specialized national committee to protect children and adolescents from risks associated with the use of social media platforms and the internet. The decision came during a cabinet session held on Tuesday in the governorate of Karak, where the chairmanship of the committee was entrusted to the President of the Board of Commissioners of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, while the authority took on the duties of the committee's general secretariat.
The committee includes representatives from several national ministries and institutions, including the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, the National Council for Family Affairs, the National Cybersecurity Center, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Government Communication, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, the Ministry of Social Development, and the Ministry of Interior / Public Security Directorate – Department of Family and Juvenile Protection, as well as the CEOs of the main telecommunications companies in the Kingdom (Zain, Orange, Umniah).
The committee will study the regulatory and technical options available to regulate children's access to social media platforms and evaluate the most appropriate model for implementation in the Kingdom in terms of effectiveness, cost, and technical feasibility, in line with the national legal framework. It will also propose necessary actions in coordination with related entities and come up with implementation mechanisms to be applied by the concerned authorities, including Internet service providers and related platforms, within a specified time frame.
The committee will also give special importance to the axis of awareness and capacity building, through developing educational and awareness programs directed at children, adolescents, and parents, to establish a culture of safe and responsible internet use and social media platforms. This includes proposing the systematic integration of digital safety and conscious use concepts within the educational environment in coordination with the Ministry of Education, as well as developing and executing phased and ongoing national awareness campaigns in cooperation with the Ministry of Government Communication, aimed at raising public awareness of the risks associated with the use of social media platforms and the means of prevention, ensuring that awareness messages reach all community segments in a professional and balanced manner.
