Khaberni - Legal consultant Ihab Al-Najjar confirmed that resending or circulating any offensive, false, or misleading content via social media or messaging applications is considered a crime punishable by law in the UAE, even if the person is not the creator of the original content.
The consultant explained, via 24, that Federal Decree-Law No. (34) of the year 2021 regarding combating rumors and cybercrimes explicitly stipulates the criminalization of publishing or republishing false, misleading, or offensive news or data using the information network, or any means of information technology.
He mentioned that Article (52) of the law states that anyone who broadcasts, publishes, republishes, or circulates content that could harm public interest or public order shall be punished by imprisonment for no less than a year and a fine of no less than 100,000 Dirhams, with the possibility of increasing the penalty, according to the gravity of the act and its consequences.
Misunderstanding
The legal consultant emphasized that the prevalent belief that "resending is not considered a violation" is a misunderstanding, confirming that the law equates those who create violating content with those who participate in circulating or disseminating it.
He called for the necessity of social media users to exhibit legal responsibility and verify content before circulating it, to avoid legal accountability and maintain community security and general stability.
