In the United Arab Emirates, any recorded spoken word can lead to legal consequences
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a stern warning has been issued to social media users regarding the use of abusive or defamatory comments online. The UAE's laws, specifically Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021 and its amendment, Law No. 5 of 2024, impose strict penalties for such behaviour.
Wael Obaid, a legal consultant at Dubai Courts, reported a surge in online defamation cases from user comments rather than original posts. This rise in incidents involves individuals attacking creators personally in comment sections, a trend that the authorities are taking seriously.
The penalties for such offences can be severe. Fines range from AED 250,000 to AED 500,000, depending on the nature and severity of the comment. Imprisonment is also a possibility, with terms extending up to 3 years for general offences. In aggravated cases, such as racist or discriminatory content, or offences against government entities, the imprisonment terms can extend to 5 years, and fines can reach AED 500,000.
It's important to note that both individuals and legal entities are held responsible for such comments, regardless of whether they were posted with malicious intent or were reposted. All forms of online insult or defamation, including written posts, videos, audios, live streams, and comment threads, are covered by these laws. Commenting on public posts does not grant immunity from prosecution.
Major Abdullah Al Sheihi, acting head of Dubai Police's Cyber Crime Department, warned that comments during live sessions can lead to prosecution. Similarly, Colonel Omar Ahmed Abu Al Zawd, Director of Sharjah Police's Criminal Investigation Department, emphasized that public commenting does not grant the right to mock, humiliate, or verbally attack others.
The authorities urge users to think before posting and suggest scrolling past or reporting content instead of responding with abuse. They emphasize that all online communications are traceable and recorded, and users should respect social harmony and avoid any abusive or defamatory language online. The authorities will take decisive action against digital offences that threaten social harmony.
[1] Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021 and its amendment, Law No. 5 of 2024 [2] Wael Obaid, Legal Consultant at Dubai Courts [3] Major Abdullah Al Sheihi, acting head of Dubai Police's Cyber Crime Department [4] Colonel Omar Ahmed Abu Al Zawd, Director of Sharjah Police's Criminal Investigation Department [5] The UAE's Cybercrime Law and its implications for social media users
- The surge in online defamation cases in the UAE, as reported by Wael Obaid, a legal consultant at Dubai Courts, has brought attention to incidents where individuals attack creators personally in comment sections, which are covered by the UAE's Cybercrime Law and its implications for social media users.
- General-news outlets report severe penalties for online defamation in the UAE, with fines ranging from AED 250,000 to AED 500,000 and imprisonment terms extending up to 5 years in aggravated cases, such as racist or discriminatory content or offences against government entities.
