Image used for representation only
The Ministry of Interior (MoI), in collaboration with Meta, yesterday launched a missing alert service to help find missing children and return them to their families by publishing missing alerts on Facebook and Instagram feeds.
The service, first of its kind in the Middle East on two platforms, is part of the continuous efforts by MoI to strengthen security and public safety in Qatar, ranked the safest country in the world by Numbeo Safety Index 2022.
The service was launched at a press conference organised by the Ministry yesterday. Director General of Criminal Investigation, Brig. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, and a number of officials attended the event.
The “Missing Alert” service is carried out through the AMBER Alert system on Facebook and Instagram. The alerts for missing children will appear to all users within 160km radius. Users can also share the alert with their friends and reach a larger audience, thus helping to identify and locate the missing child as soon as possible, as most of these incidents occur in highly crowded areas.
The initiative also aims to provide all available resources and options to enable community members to contribute to maintaining enhanced security in their communities, including applying advanced technologies and utilising the available platforms to serve this purpose. Furthermore, this will facilitate their cooperation with the authorities when they receive a missing alert via Instagram and Facebook.
Brig. Abdullah Khalifa Al Muftah, from MoI; Emily Vacher (centre), Director of Trust & Safety at Meta; and Shaden Khallaf, Meta's Head of Public Policy for North Africa and the GCC attending a press conference in Doha yesterday.
Addressing the press conference, Director of Public Relations at MoI, Brig. Abdullah Khalifa Al Muftah, said the ministry was working proactively to ensure that crimes of all kinds are kept to a minimum. “Adopting a proactive approach is what keeps Qatar at the forefront of the safest countries in the world,” he added.
Al Muftah thanked Meta for its cooperation through continuous meetings and coordination with the Ministry, praising the efforts of the project team, which communicates with Meta on a case report until its publication on Instagram and Facebook. Assistant Director of the Economic and Cyber Crimes Combating Department, Maj. Madawi Saeed Al Qahtani, said Qatar was always keen to support efforts to establish security and peace worldwide at all levels. He added that this step is part of its support to develop safer societies for children.
“This service is yet another effort in the context of larger and more comprehensive efforts made by the ministry to maintain the security of residents and visitors alike, especially with the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” said Al Qahtani.
Director of Trust & Safety at Meta, Emily Vacher said: “Qatar has become the first country in the Middle East to launch this smart alert on Facebook and Instagram at the same time. We confirm Meta’s keenness to cooperate with the Ministry of Interior, and we look forward to strengthening this partnership in the future.”
Meta’s Head of Public Policy, North Africa and GCC, Shaden Khallaf said: “Today in partnership with the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation of the Ministry of Interior Qatar, Meta is launching the AMBER alert programme in Qatar, reinforcing Meta’s commitment to Qatar and the Middle East region with this local partnership.”
