The UAE's Ministry of Interior is co-hosting the WeProtect Global Summit 2024 in Abu Dhabi on December 4–5 — one of the most significant global gatherings dedicated to child safety online. More than 600 multidisciplinary stakeholders from governments, the private sector, and civil society will convene in person and online to confront the growing threat of child sexual exploitation and abuse in the digital age.
A Global Call for Action
This marks the second time the UAE has hosted the summit, underscoring the country's consistent commitment to advancing international child-protection efforts. Over the past decade, online child sexual abuse and exploitation has grown dramatically, prompting the creation of the WeProtect Global Alliance — a movement of more than 310 governments, companies, and charities united in driving urgent action against these crimes.
This year's summit theme, Focus on the Future, centres on emerging technologies that will shape the online safety landscape over the next five to ten years, including advanced generative AI, predictive AI tools, quantum computing, and extended reality. Sessions will explore both the risks and the opportunities these innovations present for protecting children online.
Key Agenda Items
- Evolving Technologies Horizon Scan: The Alliance will release a landmark new report drawing on findings from more than 300 experts worldwide, assessing how rapid technological change creates new risks for child exploitation — and how those risks can be managed. - AI and Deepfakes: Discussions will address AI-generated deepfake imagery and manipulated content as emerging threats, alongside the countermeasures available to law enforcement and the technology industry. - Workforce Resilience: The summit will establish strategies to support professionals working to identify and respond to online child exploitation — an area where research has highlighted urgent need. - International Regulation: A major focus will be placed on developing an effective international regulatory framework capable of keeping pace with accelerating technological change.
Speakers and Attendees
High-profile speakers include Baroness Joanna Shields OBE DL, WeProtect founder and Board member, who will deliver opening remarks; Lt. Col. Dana Humaid Al Marzooqi, Director General of the International Affairs Bureau at the UAE Ministry of Interior and a WeProtect Board member; and Evan Spiegel, CEO of Snap Inc., who will discuss Snapchat's safety-by-design approach and the role of industry collaboration in online child protection.
Technology leaders from Microsoft, Google, TikTok, and OpenAI are among those participating. Government ministers and senior officials from Singapore, Serbia, Kuwait, and many other countries will attend alongside representatives from global organisations including Interpol and the African Union.
The summit concluded with the launch of the Abu Dhabi Call to Action — a unified initiative committing participants to address current and emerging challenges in child protection within the digital world.
