Abstract

This research examines the limits of freedom of publication on social media platforms vis-à-vis a child's right to privacy under Qatari legislation. It aims to define the concepts of "child" and "harmful digital content," outline the legal basis for protecting a child's privacy and best interests, and evaluate the adequacy of Qatari legislation in addressing emerging forms of digital abuse. Employing descriptive, analytical, and comparative methodologies, the study analyzes provisions from the Qatari Constitution, the Penal Code, the Cybercrime Prevention Law, and the Personal Data Privacy Protection Law, while drawing upon legislative experiences from Egypt, France, the UK, and Europe. The research concludes that while Qatari legislation provides legal protection for children against defamation, privacy violations, sexual exploitation, and the unregulated processing of personal data, this protection is fragmented across multiple statutes and is predominantly punitive—addressing violations only after they occur. Furthermore, the study identifies a lack of comprehensive regulation regarding cyberbullying, deepfakes, excessive parental sharing (sharenting), the commercial exploitation of child influencers, and the liability of digital platforms. The research recommends enacting a comprehensive Qatari legislative framework for the digital protection of children; establishing clear definitions for harmful content; regulating the publication of children's images and data; and recognizing their right to request the deletion of published content concerning them. It also recommends mandating that platforms conduct risk assessments, provide rapid reporting and removal mechanisms, and prevent the re-circulation of harmful content, thereby striking a balance between freedom of publication, child privacy, and the child's best interests.

Keywords

Freedom of Publication; Social Media Platforms; Child Privacy; Best Interests of the Child; Harmful Digital Content; Qatari Legislation.