The recent conflict involving Iran has highlighted the strict enforcement of cybercrime laws in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As missile and drone attacks occurred earlier this year, authorities intensified their crackdown on online content, leading to arrests connected to misleading videos, AI-generated clips, unauthorized recordings, and misinformation.
Residents were startled to realize that a seemingly harmless screenshot or forwarded video could lead to criminal charges. The UAE’s legal framework has long been established to address this issue. Under Article 52 of UAE law, spreading false news, misleading rumors, or content that disrupts public peace during crises can result in harsh penalties. Typically, such actions incur a minimum one-year prison sentence and a fine of 100,000 UAE dirhams, but in times of emergency, these penalties double to a minimum of two years and 200,000 UAE dirhams.
Legal expert Ahmed Elnaggar explains that the assessment of shared content during emergencies is based not only on its accuracy but also on its potential impact on stability and public security. “What might appear as commentary or documentation can, in such contexts, be interpreted as harmful or unlawful communication,” he notes. Consequently, authorities have arrested numerous individuals for sharing content deemed harmful to public order and security. In one instance, 375 people were arrested by Abu Dhabi Police for disseminating misinformation and illegally filming sensitive locations.
The UAE’s cybercrime laws have always transcended issues like hacking and fraud. The legislation, established under Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021, encompasses a range of online misconduct including privacy violations and online defamation.
For people living in or visiting the UAE, the implication is clear: common online actions can lead to serious legal consequences. When sharing a screenshot, the situation becomes complicated. A screenshot shared without consent can shed light on private communications, potentially causing reputational damage. Elnaggar stresses that the law does not differentiate between formal and informal sharing, holding individuals responsible once they disclose private content.
Another common misconception is that only the original creator of problematic content bears responsibility. However, UAE law extends this liability to anyone involved in the circulation of that content. “Forwarding a message in a private group is not a neutral act,” Elnaggar warns, emphasizing that all participants in sharing are subject to the same scrutiny as the original poster.
In addition, filming or photographing security-related activities during armed conflict, even without posting, brings individuals under stricter penal codes, which may include deportation for foreign nationals.
In the context of a conflict, the safest approach for many is simply to avoid pointing their smartphones skyward.
