Agree or disagree, social media plays a major role in our lives! However, using social media in the Untied Arab Emirates comes with its own bag of rules and regulations. Many times, WhatsApp conversations have led to legal battles. And this is the same case when it comes to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, etc.
Better to be safe than sorry
The misuse of information technology in the UAE can leave you with a fine of up to AED 50,000 along with imprisonment. Here are the Do’s and Don’ts you must follow:
Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority of the UAE issued ‘The UAE Social Media White Papers’ to create awareness about rights and obligations while using social media. Some of the acts that could be a criminal offense are:
- Tagging a person without his consent.
- Posting other people’s pictures or videos without their consent.
- Threatening people.
- Spreading information that is not verified by the official sources.
- Gossiping about people or maligning them.
- Prohibited media content in the UAE.
The UAE sets national standards for media content and requires all local mass media institutions operating in the UAE to abide by them. These include:
- To respect the regime of the United Arab Emirates, its symbols and the political system.
- Not to offend the divine and Islamic beliefs, and show respect to other religions.
- To respect the culture and heritage of the UAE.
- Not to offend national unity nor social cohesion and/or incite up sectarian, regional and tribal conflict.
- To respect directions and policies of the UAE at the domestic and international levels
- not to harm the economic system of the country, nor spread rumors, misleading and biased news.
- To respect the government policies to promote national identity and the integration of citizens in the media labor market.
- To respect the principles and codes of ethics of media work.
- Not to publish or broadcast information harmful to children, women and other social groups, or that would incite others toward hatred and violence.
- To respect the copyright rules and regulations.
- Not to disclose official confidential contacts, military matters or conventions or treaties concluded by the government without proper authorizations.
- Not to report distorted proceedings and deliberations of courts or other regulatory bodies
- Not to disclose information on a criminal investigation, which has not been concluded and/or ordered to be confidential.
- Not to publish news, photographs, comments which invade privacy of individuals and families or destroy reputation.
- Forging, fabricating documents or presenting incorrect news with bad intent.
- material which harms the national currency or causes a confusion over the economic situation in a country.
- Newsletters or advertisements, which include expressions, photographs, or drawings that are in violation of public morals or may confuse the public.
- Defaming public officials.
- Investigations which deal with more than one party, without giving an account of the views of all parties directly concerned.
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