Tourists, expats and influencers detained in UAE over digital content showing Iran war impacts, activist says
CBSN
A growing number of social media users, including foreigners, are facing charges in the United Arab Emirates under the Gulf state's broad cybercrime laws for sharing or possessing digital content that depicts or comments on the impact of ongoing Iranian attacks, the advocacy group Detained in Dubai has warned. In:
A growing number of social media users, including foreigners, are facing charges in the United Arab Emirates under the Gulf state's broad cybercrime laws for sharing or possessing digital content that depicts or comments on the impact of ongoing Iranian attacks, the advocacy group Detained in Dubai has warned.
The arrests highlight the strict regulations around online content in the UAE, which has expressly forbidden anyone from taking or sharing imagery that shows Iranian drone or missile impacts or efforts to intercept the weapons.
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai and Due Process International, and an expert on legal and extradition issues in the Gulf region, warned in a social media post that even minor posts, reshares, commentary, photos and opinions can lead to detention in the UAE, "even if it was made outside the UAE."
Stirling said 21 people were facing charges under the UAE's cybercrime laws as of Thursday, including a 60-year-old British tourist who deleted his video immediately when authorities asked him to, but was still charged.
An influencer with 300,000 views was just told to delete a video and post a correction, Stirling said, highlighting what she called "an interesting contrast," as others filming the same street events were apparently arrested.
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