New UAE cyber law about social media misconduct

While fighting fake news and intolerance with a strong cybercrime law, the UAE takes stringent action against social media misconduct and acts affecting others’ privacy.

According to UAE laws, posting photographs, videos or comments that invade someone's privacy and personal life is a major offence that would attract imprisonment of at least six months and penalties from Dh150,000 to Dh500,000.

Refrain from making insulting or offensive posts which defame Islam or any other recognised religions. By Article 37 of the UAE Cybercrime Law, such crimes may attract imprisonment of up to seven years and penalties ranging from Dh250,000 to Dh1 million.

The full list of penalties and fines for committing social media violations:

• Fake news, rumours, misleading or inaccurate information that contradicts official announcements
— one year in prison and Dh100,000 fine
• Information that agitates public opinion, causes panic or harms national security and affairs —
one year in prison and Dh100,000 fine
• Photos or videos of other people without their consent — six months in prison and/or Dh150,000-
Dh500,000 fine
• Fake news during pandemics, emergencies or crises — two years in prison and Dh200,000 fine
• Comments, news, photos or information about a person, even if true, that may cause harm — six
months in prison and/or Dh150,000-Dh500,000 fine
• Photos or videos of accident or crisis victims, whether dead or injured — six months in prison
and/or Dh150,000-Dh500,000 fine
• Misleading or inaccurate ads — prison term and/or Dh20,000-Dh500,000 fine
• Information or data that defames a foreign country — six months in prison and/or Dh100,000 -
Dh500,000 fine
• Pornography or indecent content — prison term and/or Dh250,000 - Dh500,000 fine
• Content that contains blasphemy and defames religions - prison term and/or Dh250,000 - Dh1
million fine
• Content for collecting donations — prison term and/or Dh200,000 - Dh500,000 fine
• Content that promotes unlicensed medical products — jail term and/or fine