The UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority is urging residents not to publish or spread fake news online
2 May 2018
| Last updated on 31 March 2019![Sharing fake news in Dubai Sharing fake news in Dubai](https://cdn.expatwoman.com/s3fs-public/phone-main_0.jpg)
Respecting those around you and the state itself, while living in Dubai and the UAE has always been of the utmost important here.
Which is why it is unsurprising that it has been confirmed residents could face a Dhs 1 million fine for spreading fake news in Dubai.
If you read something online or receive information that you believe to be false, don't continue to share it on social media or pass to your friends via WhatsApp or similar. Otherwise, you may risk paying a huge penalty, which could potentially reach up to Dhs 1 million.
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News of this new, hefty fine comes as the UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has warned residents against sharing fake information on social media, stating that the act is punishable by law.
The above translates to: "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."
The UAE law which regulates this online behaviour is Article 29 of Federal Law No 5 of 2012, which penalises those proven guilty of sharing false information, news or rumours that are damaging to the reputation of the state or any of its institutions.
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It states that "“those proven guilty of sharing information, news, statements or rumours 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.”
This applies to any messages spread by electronic means; such as email, SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook or any other platform.