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When an Iranian missile And a drone Attacks In the UAE starting earlier this year, cybercrime laws have also been in focus as the conflict continues in the skies and online. authorities Announced arrests Associated with misleading videos, AI-generated clips, illegal filming, and the spread of misinformation.
For many residents, the reaction was surprising: How could a screenshot, forwarded video, or social media post become something criminal? The answer lies in the legal frameworks already in place.
During normal times, many forms of online misconduct can carry penalties under UAE cybercrime laws. But during crises, emergencies or disasters, the risks rise dramatically. Article 52 of UAE law criminalizes the use of the Internet to spread false news, misleading rumours, or content contrary to official announcements, as well as material that would disturb public peace, cause panic, or harm public order.
Under normal circumstances, the minimum penalty is one year in prison and a fine of AED 100,000. During epidemics, crises, emergencies or disasters, these numbers double to at least two years and 200 thousand UAE dirhams. The recent conflict did not create new law. This has led to harsher penalties being imposed under existing sanctions.
Legal advisor Ahmed Al-Najjar, managing partner of Al-Najjar & Partners, says the rationale for arrests related to online activity fits this framework. “Content shared during emergencies is evaluated not only for its accuracy, but also for its potential impact on stability, security and public perception,” he says. “What may appear as a comment or documentation could, in such contexts, be construed as malicious or illegal communication.”
Authorities have ordered the arrest of defendants accused of publishing misleading videos, including clips generated by artificial intelligence, and circulating material deemed harmful to public order and security. Abu Dhabi Police also announced the arrest 375 People who illegally film specific locations and spread misleading information online.
From a legal point of view, Al-Najjar says, all content coming from unofficial or unverified sources during the conflict carries serious risks. “Only content issued by official and accredited public authorities in the UAE should be treated as safe to share,” he says.
Long before the recent conflict, the framework of cybercrime in the UAE has always extended beyond hacking, stolen passwords and online fraud. Pursuant to Federal Decree Law No. (34) of 2021It also covers breaches of privacy, false information, misuse of digital platforms, online defamation and other forms of harmful online behaviour.
For residents, tourists, creatives and anyone with a smartphone, the practical lesson is simple: some common online habits can have legal implications.
When a screenshot stops being harmless
Screenshots have become a language of their own. They document conversations, settle arguments, provide evidence in disputes, and sometimes serve no purpose other than to briefly make the group chat more interesting. But once a private exchange is copied and shared, it may no longer be treated as private, and intent is not always the only factor taken into account under the law.
Al-Najjar explains the matter clearly: “The law does not differentiate between official publication and informal participation when the result is the same.”
Al-Najjar says that screenshots become legally problematic when they reveal private communications without consent, distort the context of what was said, or contribute to reputational damage. Al-Najjar says: “The law bears responsibility upon disclosure.” “Even if content was originally shared in trust between two parties, its redistribution can turn a private exchange into a regulated media act with legal consequences.”
Many users assume that intent is the deciding factor. The law, in general, does not do that.
Redirection is still important
A related misconception is that only the person who created problematic content bears any risks. The person who wrote the letter, filmed the video, and started the rumor – not the person who simply passed it along – is at fault. This does not hold up under UAE law.
The legal definition of media activity is broad enough to appeal not only to original creators but also to anyone involved in the circulation of content. “Publishing and re-publishing are treated in the same way,” Al-Najjar says. “The responsibility is linked to the act of publishing itself.”