نظمت أكاديمية ربدان هاكاثون «الألعاب الرقمية الآمنة: الابتكار من أجل مجتمع رقمي آمن»، صورة مرفقة مع البيان الصحفي
Press Release
Abu Dhabi: The Rabdan Academy recently hosted a hackathon entitled “Safe Digital Gaming: Innovation for a Secure Digital Community,” in collaboration with the UAE’s Ministry of Interior’s Safe Communities Forum. This initiative brought together students, experienced government personnel, academics, industry representatives, and international organizations to transform research findings into practical solutions for addressing the myriad risks associated with online gaming. The event aligns with the UAE’s artificial intelligence strategy and national priorities focused on enhancing digital trust and cybersecurity resilience.
The Growing Importance of Digital Safety
The hackathon highlighted the significance of digital safety as a critical social, security, and economic priority, particularly given the increasing role of electronic gaming in social interactions and the digital economy. This initiative resonates with Abu Dhabi’s commitment to advancing digital innovation, artificial intelligence, and building resilient communities. It provided students with the opportunity to leverage research insights and expert perspectives to tackle rapidly evolving digital challenges.
Collaboration for User Safety
Salem Saeed Al-Saeedi, Vice President of Rabdan Academy, remarked, “Ensuring the safety of users in the digital realm is a shared responsibility that no single entity can undertake alone. This requires collaboration, fresh ideas, and individuals ready to work and contribute. This hackathon offered our students a chance to challenge themselves, think differently, and express their ideas confidently, as every innovative solution starts with a simple concept.”
Research Foundations and Student Involvement
The hackathon relied on preliminary findings from a research study titled “Safety Stories in Games: Hate Speech and Extremism in Online Gaming.” This study, conducted by the Safe Communities Forum in collaboration with Rabdan Academy, seeks to better understand the detrimental behaviours encountered by players in gaming environments. Based on a confidential online survey with 70 documented responses, the study identified five priority areas: limited oversight of text and voice communication, difficulty in identifying harmful behaviours, ineffective reporting systems, early targeting of younger users, and religious identity as a prominent target for hate speech and extremist content. These findings shaped the challenge brief presented to students.
Addressing Real Issues Through Gaming
Highlighting the importance of developing practical solutions based on player experiences, Dr. Ahmed Al-Zarouni, Deputy Director-General of the International Affairs Office at the UAE Ministry of Interior, noted, “Currently, electronic gaming platforms represent one of the largest social spaces globally and are a primary destination for millions of young people to forge friendships and foster a sense of belonging. In this context, students participating in the hackathon today are tackling real issues grounded in actual experiences that demand effective solutions.”
Keynote Speakers and Educational Sessions
The hackathon featured a keynote address from Dr. David Charia, Director of the Executive Branch for Counter-Terrorism at the United Nations Security Council, alongside expert-led panel discussions on online extremism trends and the risks facing women and youth in digital spaces.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Innovation
Students from Rabdan Academy, UAE University, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi University, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Zayed University, and the Military College of Zayed collaborated in interdisciplinary teams to develop AI-powered concepts aimed at early detection of negative behaviours, enhancing oversight of text and voice communication, improving reporting mechanisms, and providing timely user support.
Winners and Impact of the Hackathon
The team awarded the Best Group prize, which included students from Rabdan Academy and other participating universities, developed an AI-supported digital facility capable of detecting early indicators of harassment, online exploitation, and extremist recruitment. The solution also provides age-appropriate guidance and facilitates reporting of serious cases for further review.
This hackathon demonstrated the importance of translating research and specialized discussions into tangible concepts created by students within a single day, highlighting the significance of collaboration between government entities, academia, industry, and youth to build safer and more resilient digital communities. Additionally, this experience reinforced Rabdan Academy’s pivotal role in preparing students to employ artificial intelligence in addressing real-world challenges that affect society and the broader digital economy.
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