Think before commenting in UAE: Posting negative comments online you can spend 500,000 world news
The United Arab Emirates has recently intensified its enforcement of laws against negative, derogatory and defamation comments on social media platforms, indicating a strict legal environment for online speech. In Sharjah and Dubai, UAE officials including police have issued strict warnings, which can cause criminal allegations, imprisonment and heavy fines not only posts, but also the comments or answers, whether written, audio, video, or live country’s cyber crime and defamation laws.Under the federal decree law number 34 of 2021, modified, online humiliation, defamation, and spread of false or misleading information are criminal offenses. These laws protect individuals, businesses and public authorities from iconic losses due to infamous digital content. Officials emphasized that users often underestimate that small comments north or live session comments are recorded, findable and prosecution.TL; Dr:
- The UAE is intensifying the enforcement of cyber crime and defamation laws, warning that social media comments, answers and live interactions can also cause criminal allegations.
- Criminals face a fine of civil claims for AED 250,000-500,000, potential imprisonment and loss; Rebuilt of slander material also increases liability.
- The authorities urged respectable digital conduct, saying that all online activity is capable and should follow national values and laws.
Major Legal Provisions and Penalty:
- Fine: Online defamation can lead to fine from AED 250,000 to AED 500,000; Frequent or increased cases may cause high punishment.
- Imprisonment: Defamation, including the complaint (written) and slander (oral), can carry the conditions of the prison, for 2 years for the complaint and up to 1 year for condemnation.
- criminal charge: Both civil and criminal cases can be sought for restoration and compensation by the affected parties.
- Comprehensive cyber crime effects: The spread of false information, especially during an emergency like an epidemic, bears heavy fines and jail conditions.
- responsibility: Sharing, rebuating, or even responding to defamation material is legally indicated to all sides.
- scope: Defamation laws apply equally to private individuals and public authorities, with some legal nuances for truth claims involving officers.
Enforcement trends
In recent years, the UAE has seen an increasing number of enforcement operations against individuals that post negative reviews, comments or defamation content on social media. Many high-profile cases reflect the severity of these laws in behavior. In an example, a woman was fined after posting a viral Instagram video criticizing a hospital. In the second, a person was ordered to pay an AED 70,000, which damages the reputation of a business. Legal experts have warned that even emotional outbreaks or online individual complaints may have legal consequences, as the country’s cyber crime and defamation law cover a wide range of digital manifestations.
Government and Authority Messages:
Officials have consistently urged residents and visitors to avoid personal attacks, derogatory language, or abusive comments and take care in their online behavior, and instead use official reporting channels while raising complaints. Senior Law Enforcement officials emphasize that all forms of digital communication, written posts to comments, answers, live streams and even private messages are monitored and recorded. Users are reminiscent of the UAE’s cultural and social norms to maintain respect, tolerance, and co -existence values. The UAE’s National Media Office has further emphasized that every social media user acts as an ambassador to the country’s reputation, which takes responsibility for attaching honorably online. Under existing media rules, violations can result in serious administrative measures, including a fine of up to 1 million or in case of media outlets, closing the installation for violations.UAE’s update and strictly implemented cyber crime and defamation law create a strong environment where online negative comments or defamation comments are considered as a serious offense. The purpose of the legal framework is to balance the freedom of expression with protection against digital disadvantages, ensure peaceful and respectable online interactions to suit the cultural and social values of the country. Internet users and material creators are urged to identify that each comment and post leave a digital footprint, which may have significant legal consequences, including large fines and imprisonment.
