Sharing fake news could land you a fine of AED1 million

The UAE’s Telecommunications and Regulatory Authority (TRA) has issued a statement urging all UAE residents not to publish or share fake news on social media as the action is punishable by law.

Taking to , the regulatory body said: “Remember that not everything you read on social media is true, some are just rumours that can cause harm to others or to the state. We ask you to always verify the source and to use the official accounts of the government to verify the news.”

It also highlighted Article 29 of Federal Law No 5 of 2012, which states that “those proven guilty of sharing information, news, statements or rumors on a website or any computer network or information technology means with intent to make sarcasm or damage the reputation, prestige or stature of the State or any of its institutions or its president, vice-president, any of the rulers of the Emirates, their crown princes, or the deputy rulers of the Emirates, the State flag, the national peace, its logo, national anthem or any of its symbols” will face “temporary imprisonment and a fine not in excess of one million dirhams.”