Know All About Hefty Fines and Penalties for Breaking Social Media Rules in the UAE (image-instgram/pixabay)

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has called on the public to be cautious while making any derogatory remarks that would damage the reputation of the country. The authorities have warned that any individual who indulges in such activities will be subject to jail time and a hefty fine.

The UAE capital’s legal authority has said that anyone who publishes information, news, data, visual images, visual materials, or rumours on a website or any information network or technological means to ridicule or harm the reputation, prestige, or status of the country, its authorities, or institutions will face imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years and a fine not exceeding Dh 500,000.

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This month, Abu Dhabi Police also issued an advisory asking the public to avoid spreading rumours and fake information. The police have also asked residents to verify the information before circulating news on social media platforms.

In an advisory posted on Friday, April 12, the UAE capital’s police called on the public to only consume information from reliable media sources.

Here is a list of penalties and fines for committing social media violations:

• Spreading information that agitates public opinion or harms national security
– Penalty: Up to 1 year in prison and a fine of Dh100,000.

• Disseminating fake news or misinformation contradicting official announcements
– Penalty: Up to 1 year in prison and a fine of Dh100,000.

• Publishing fake news during pandemics, emergencies, or crises
– Penalty: Up to 2 years in prison and a fine of Dh200,000.

• Sharing photos or videos of individuals without consent
– Penalty: Up to 6 months in prison and/or a fine between Dh150,000 and Dh500,000.

• Publishing images or videos of accident or crisis victims (dead or injured)
– Penalty: Up to 6 months in prison and/or a fine between Dh150,000 and Dh500,000.

• Posting harmful comments, news, or images about a person (even if true)
– Penalty: Up to 6 months in prison and/or a fine between Dh150,000 and Dh500,000.

• Publishing misleading or inaccurate advertisements
– Penalty: Imprisonment and/or a fine between Dh20,000 and Dh500,000.

• Defaming a foreign country through information or data
– Penalty: Up to 6 months in prison and/or a fine between Dh100,000 and Dh500,000.

• Disseminating pornographic or indecent content
– Penalty: Imprisonment and/or a fine between Dh250,000 and Dh500,000.

• Posting blasphemous content or defaming religions
– Penalty: Imprisonment and/or a fine between Dh250,000 and Dh1 million.

• Soliciting donations without official authorisation
– Penalty: Imprisonment and/or a fine between Dh200,000 and Dh500,000.

• Promoting unlicensed medical products
– Penalty: Imprisonment and/or applicable fine.

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