Nidaa teams up with FB to find missing children

dubai — SOS alerts would soon be sent to UAE residents’ Facebook accounts when a child is reported missing. The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has teamed up with Facebook to launch the Nidaa (Arabic for alert) system, which is the first of its kind in the region that helps find missing children.

The system is activated once a parent reports his/her child missing to the police. Nidaa will automatically notify Facebook users in the area from where the child is reported missing and provide them with all the relevant information that includes his latest photograph, the colour

The partnership uses social media for people’s benefit. The UAE is creating new standards to protect children.

Lt-General Saif Abdullah Al Shafar, undersecretary at the MoI

of his clothes when he went missing and a description of his appearance. If the child is not found from the area, the alert is sent to Facebook users across the country.

The alert is deleted once the child is found.

Lt-General Saif Abdullah Al Shafar, undersecretary at the MoI, said the ministry’s partnership with Facebook would help enhance safety and security. “The partnership uses social media for people’s benefit,”

He said the UAE is “creating new standards” to protect children.

Emily Vacher, Facebook’s director for trust and safety, said the system is a result of a strategic partnership to improve security in society. It also promotes social responsibility, she added. —

The ministry’s partnership with Facebook would help enhance safety and security. The partnership uses social media for people’s benefit.

Lt-Gen Saif Abdullah Al Shafar

Undersecretary at the MoI