A proposed amendment to Bahrain’s Child Law that introduces wide-ranging protections for children in the digital space has been backed by the Shura Council.
Under the proposal, children under 15 would be prohibited from creating accounts on digital platforms, as they are considered the most vulnerable group and least able to assess risks or meet self-protection requirements.
Usage by those aged 15 to 18 would be regulated under defined safeguards.
The council unanimously approved the proposal yesterday during its weekly session and referred it to the Cabinet to be drafted as a formal law.
The amendments seek to update Law No (37) of 2012 by adding a new chapter titled ‘Child Digital Safety’, reflecting mounting national and global concern over children’s exposure to harmful online content, privacy violations and exploitation.
The draft was submitted by five Shura Council members led by second vice-chairwoman Dr Jihad Al Fadhel.
Woman and child affairs committee rapporteur Dr Jameela Al Salman said the proposal aims to entrench digital safety as an integral extension of comprehensive child protection.
“Digital safety is no longer separate from legal protection,” she told members.
“It is a necessary legislative response to the realities of the digital age and to the new patterns of exploitation, privacy violations and harmful content that technological advancement has revealed.”
She explained that the proposal adopts a graduated approach to protection based on age, balancing prohibition and regulation while excluding digital platforms used for educational purposes.
“The committee saw the inclusion of digital safety within the existing Child Law as the most coherent legislative option,” Dr Al Salman said.
“It preserves unity of reference for child protection and avoids fragmenting safeguards across multiple laws.”
Dr Al Salman, who is also Shura’s services committee chairwoman, stressed that educational platforms would be exempt, with the Education Ministry responsible for identifying them by ministerial decision.
“This ensures protection measures do not undermine the right to education or hinder the development of modern learning tools, which are now a cornerstone of our education system,” she added.
Dr Al Fadhel described the initiative as a response to a ‘pressing reality’ facing today’s children.
“Children are growing up in a digital environment that profoundly shapes their awareness, behaviour and wellbeing,” she said.
“Protecting them online is no longer optional – it is a natural extension of the state’s constitutional duty to safeguard children.”
Woman and child affairs committee chairwoman Ejlal Bubshait described the proposal as a ‘qualitative legislative step’ aligned with Bahrain’s national priorities and international trends.
“The committee was keen to ensure digital safety does not turn into restrictions on education or innovation,” she said.
“The law is designed to protect children without isolating them from the digital future.”
Under the proposed framework, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority would be tasked with issuing policies and standards governing Internet service providers’ obligations to protect children from harmful content.
A separate executive regulation would outline enforcement mechanisms, administrative penalties and age-verification requirements.
Ms Bubshait said the approach allows flexibility to keep pace with rapid technological change, noting that countries such as Australia, Belgium, France, Germany and Kuwait have adopted or strengthened age-based digital protection measures.
“Our ultimate goal is to safeguard the best interests of the child in every environment – including the virtual one,” she added.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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