Emirati authorities have threatened violators with fines and prison terms for publishing footage related to alleged Iranian strikes.
Dubai authorities have threatened influencers with hefty fines or prison terms for publishing material depicting damage caused by Iranian missiles and drones.
Tehran has denied targeting civilian infrastructure in neighboring countries, including the UAE, insisting its armed forces were only attacking American military bases in the region in response to US and Israeli attacks.
Dubai has been a magnet for content creators from around the world for some time with its dedicated residency golden visa.
In a social media post, Emirati authorities warned people against publishing any material deemed harmful “Public Order” And “National Unity.” Violators face fines of up to $77,000 or jail time.
An anonymous lifestyle influencer based in Dubai told local officials to The Telegraph “Want to control the narrative, that’s for sure.”
“There are strict rules about what you can say here.” she added.
In a statement on Saturday – hours after the US and Israel launched massive airstrikes on Iran – the UAE Public Prosecutor’s Office warned “Against publishing or disseminating rumors and information from unknown sources through social media platforms.”
Officials advised online publishers to get “Information from official and recognized sources only” Adding that, “Spreading rumors is a crime.”
On Saturday, the UAE Defense Ministry said the country was hit by an Iranian attack involving several ballistic missiles, some of which were intercepted by air defenses. It revealed that missile debris fell on a residential area and one person was killed “incident” At Abu Dhabi Airport.
The Gulf country is home to two US military bases, which were reportedly damaged by Iranian retaliatory strikes in recent days.
An ongoing US-Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian commanders over the weekend. More than 1,200 people, including at least 160 pre-teen students and teachers, have been killed in Iran since the campaign began. Russia has condemned the attack on Iran.
You can share this story on social media:
