Today's Edition
DUBAI (ALETIHAD)
Dubai Police’s Cybercrime Department has called for family supervision to protect children from the risks associated with online games amid the ongoing summer vacations.
The department urged parents to educate children on the importance of avoiding interactions with strangers through game features.
The cybercrime unit, part of General Department of Criminal Investigation at Dubai Police, highlighted that increased video game usage during the summer break necessitates active family involvement as the first line of defence.
“This oversight is crucial for safeguarding children against cybercrime risks and addressing unhealthy behaviours such as bullying and digital addiction," the authority added.
Officials also encouraged parents to be vigilant about gaming content, and to assess based on each child's age.
Precautions
Interactive features can allow children to interact with strangers looking to commit fraud, extortion, or other offenses against public decency.
The cybercrime department advised parents to take several precautions to protect their children from risks associated with video games, including activating parental controls on devices, consistently monitoring children's online behaviour, checking the types of games played, and ensuring that all games are age-appropriate.
Children should also be cautioned against sharing personal information or photos in games, and must follow specific limits on gaming time.
Report Cybercrime
If cybercrimes do transpire, the cybercrime department urged reports to be submitted through the ‘e-Crime’ platform by calling 901, or via the Dubai Police app or website.
Parents can visiti Dubai Police's educational online platform to learn more about cybercrime, with valuable information available in both Arabic and English: https://ecrimehub.gov.ae/ar.
