The United Arab Emirates warned its nearly 10 million residents that sharing unverified information online could result in prison time following recent missile and drone attacks on the country.
On Feb. 28, the UAE Public Prosecution said spreading rumors or information from unknown sources on social media is a criminal offense, including reposting or sharing such content.
The UAE National Media Authority urged residents to avoid filming or sharing unverified images, videos or audio and to rely only on official government sources for information.
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Countering Rumors and Cybercrimes, offenders can face at least one year in prison and a fine of 100,000 dirhams ($27,000), rising to two years and 200,000 dirhams if misinformation spreads during crises.
Critics say the law’s broad wording does not distinguish between deliberate disinformation and accidental sharing of unverified content, which may discourage residents, journalists and workers from sharing firsthand information during emergencies.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has warned its nearly 10 million residents that sharing unverified information online could lead to prison time, as authorities seek to control the flow of information following recent attacks on the country.
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