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April
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Navigating Media Regulations in the UAE
Introduction
Social media platforms technically run the age of technology, with people spending most of their time scrolling on facebook, tiktok, X (formerly twitter), instagram and others. Making it easy for people to close distance and connect with each other in the form of electronic messages and images or videos. And while it sounds like a total sanctuary for people with so much time to spend, it does have its vices, and those who use these social media platforms are obliged to follow the written rules.
Are Social Media Platforms Allowed in the UAE?
The popularity and potential audience-reach of social media platforms has brought massive influence to corporations, making them adopt social media as part of their day-to-day marketing campaigns, the increased popularity of social network sites in the UAE brings in potential of great economic value.
Social media platforms are allowed to operate in the country, however there are certain restrictions to other applications in order to mitigate potential risks stemming from its misuse. The country currently does not have access to certain social media platforms so if you are planning to relocate in this area, you might want to prepare a VPN or give up using some apps. The use of it can help boost business growth, but the risks include targeted attacks on personal information, software attacks, and risks to reputation. These risks are not limited to corporations but can also bring massive effects to non-corporate entities and individual users of social networking sites.
What Are the Key Social Media Rules?
Social media sites are for individuals to use as a form of space to share their lives, talk to each other and for corporate entities to promote their businesses and communicate better with customers. And in order to continue doing so, the strict social media rules are important to take note of in order to avoid legal troubles in the country.
1. Federal Law No 15 for 1980 concerning Publications and Publishing (Publications Law) - This command both traditional media and digital media content and it covers all forms of published content and sets out matters that may not be published, such as matters related to religion and politics, individual rights, national security, and public morals.
2. Federal Law No 2 of 2006 on the Prevention of Information Technology Crimes (Cybercrime Law) - Cybercrime Law has been enacted by The Federal Government to prohibit any intentional act that abolishes, destroys, or reveals secrets, or that results in the republication of personal information. And in order to deter abuses of technology, social media and networking sites fall directly within the purview of the Cybercrime Law.
Tasked with regulating digital content, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority or TRA monitors online content available to users in the UAE and prohibits content for hacking and malicious codes, internet content providing unlicensed VoIP services and other illegal internet content.
Du and Etisalat are the licensed providers in the UAE, they have the power to block online content if required and following complaints of defamation or abuse where official authorities can take legal action against those running the sites after verifying the validity and seriousness of the complaint.
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