Kuwait cracks down on exploitation of children online
Kuwaiti police identify several accounts that post clips of children for lucrative purposes
Parents and guardians of social media child celebrities in Kuwait have been given one week to end the exploitation of their children for lucrative purposes or face prison for up to seven years.
Police summoned account holders found to be in violation, Al Qabas daily reported.
“They signed pledges to shut down the accounts or to delete pictures of children and not to repeat their violation of the Children’s Law. The police warned them that in case of non-compliance, they would be referred to courts on the charge of commercial exploitation of children,” sources told the daily.
Positive publicity
Kuwait’s public prosecution yesterday issued a set of guidelines to ensure that children age 13 and younger are adequately protected from the potential dangers associated with social media.
The prosecution warned against exploiting children in advertisements and promotion campaigns for financial gains on social media, but allowed “positive” publicity that promotes social services and build positive characters.
These include philanthropic deeds, acts of charity and benevolence, increasing awareness about the significance of education, healthcare and knowledge, instilling positive values in people and calling for acceptable behaviour and attitudes.
The ban covers pictures and videos of children wearing accessories, putting on makeup, dancing or uttering obscene words, the prosecution said, explaining that they violated public morals, principles and values.
The guidelines were drafted by Kuwait’s Supreme National Committee for Child Protection in cooperation with the juvenile prosecution.