Khaberni - With the rapid flow of information across digital platforms, rumors and misleading news have emerged as significant challenges facing communities during crises, due to the confusion they can cause to public opinion or their impact on social stability.
In this context, the UAE has successfully managed this challenge and prepared to confront it through a comprehensive and advanced legal and legislative system that has established a clear framework for responsibility in the digital space, contributing to the protection of the community and enhancing trust in information issued by official bodies.
Legal advisor Ihab Al-Najjar explained that the Federal Decree-Law No. (34) of 2021 on combating rumors and cybercrimes represents the most prominent legal reference for regulating content circulated on the internet and social media. He pointed out that the law criminalizes the publication or re-publication of false news or misleading information that may cause concern or affect public interest, noting that this legislation contributed during the current crisis to establishing a clear legal framework for dealing with unreliable information and limiting the spread of rumors across digital platforms.
Increasing Penalties
Al-Najjar added that the law is not limited to criminalizing the creation of misleading content only, but also includes its republication without verification, which enhances individual responsibility among users in circulating information, especially in circumstances that require a higher degree of accuracy in news transmission. The law includes deterrent penalties that may reach imprisonment for one year and a fine of no less than 100,000 dirhams, and may rise to imprisonment for two years and a fine of no less than 200,000 dirhams if the crime is committed during crises, disasters, or emergencies, reflecting the rigor of the legislation in confronting the spread of rumors in sensitive conditions.
Balancing Freedom of Expression and Protection
For his part, lawyer Mohammed Al-Awami Al-Mansoori explained that Federal Decree-Law No. (31) of 2021 on crimes and penalties complements the framework in addressing the publication of false information or defamation across digital platforms, as it includes articles that criminalize defamation and damaging the reputation of individuals or entities through the publication of incorrect information. He affirmed that this law provides additional legal protection from the exploitation of digital space for defamation or misleading the public.
Al-Mansoori indicated that the integration of these legislations contributed to regulating the circulation of information during the crisis, providing a clear reference for controlling electronic publishing and combating rumors, while simultaneously maintaining the balance between freedom of expression and the necessity of protecting the community from misleading information.
The lawyers confirmed that having an advanced and continuously updated legal framework represents a fundamental element for protecting communities in the digital age, especially during crises that require clarity in information and greater responsibility in its circulation.
