UAE woman faces prosecution for social media abuse

The public prosecutor’s office of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates has opened an investigation and legal action against an Arab woman who posted a video on social media insulting a participant in the recent Abu Dhabi Book Fair.

The public prosecutor filed a complaint against the woman for inciting public opinion and violating privacy via social media. The suspect allegedly verbally assaulted the participants by sharing a livestream video on social media without the victim’s consent.

The video, shared on social media, showed the suspect verbally assaulting the victim and blaming their presence at public events on a previous conviction abroad.

According to the prosecutor’s office, UAE law protects the rights of all individuals and does not tolerate any form of infringement, breach or attempted public order disturbance.

According to Article 44 of Federal Law No. 34 of 2021 on combating rumors and cybercrime, anyone using an information network, electronic information system or any other information technology resource without permission with the intent to infringe upon someone’s privacy, personal or family life is a criminal offence. It includes using any of the following means: eavesdropping, intercepting, recording, transmitting or disclosing conversations, communications and audio or visual material.

Here is the full list of sanctions and fines for social media violations:

• One year in prison and a fine of Dh100,000 for information that agitates public opinion, causes panic or harms national security and business.
• Conflicting false news, rumors or misleading or inaccurate information carries a one-year prison sentence and a Dh100,000 fine.
• False news during pandemics, emergencies or crises carries a two-year prison sentence and a Dh200,000 fine.
• Photos or videos of other persons without their consent are punishable by six months in prison and a fine between Dh150,000 and Dh500,000
• Photos or recordings of victims of accidents or crises, deceased or injured, are punishable by imprisonment for six months and/or a fine of Dh150,000-Dh500,000.
• Even if this is true, comments, news, photos or information about a person that can cause harm will be punishable by imprisonment for six months and/or a fine of Dh150,000-Dh500,000.
• Inaccurate or misleading advertisements are punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine ranging from Dh20,000 to Dh500,000.
• Information or data that discredits a foreign nation is punishable by six months in prison and/or a fine of Dh100,000 to Dh500,000.
• Pornography or indecent content – ​​imprisonment and/or fine between Dh250,000 and Dh500,000
• Content that contains profanity and discredits religions is punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine of Dh250,000 to Dh1 million.
• Content for soliciting contributions is punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine between Dh200,000 and Dh500,000.
• Content promoting unlicensed medical products is punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine.

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