Social networking sites are frequently the source of many issues and unpleasant situations that their users face, and in this article, we will address one of these issues, insult, and defamation on social networking sites, and show the penalty imposed by UAE law in relation to this crime.
What exactly are insults and defamation?
Defamation is one of the methods of the slur, whether the target is a person or an entity because those who carry it out deliberately fabricate the truth and create lies with the intention of harming the target’s reputation and status verbally or by spreading misleading talk.
Because social networking sites have become the most important means of communication between individuals, many incidents of insult and defamation have appeared on social networking sites as one of the problems and manifestations of abuse to which many social media pioneers are exposed.
In the UAE, insulting and slandering on social media is considered a legal crime if the perpetrator intends to harm a person’s reputation. As a result, the law imposed a penalty on the perpetrator, which we will discuss in the following article.
Elements of defamation and insult crimes according to UAE law
The elements of the crime of defamation and insult are defined by UAE law in three ways:
1- Attribution:
It is intended by attribution to accuse one person of another of what harms his reputation and status, regardless of the method and manner of defamation and its dissemination among people.
2- The incident:
When the accusation occurs, it is critical to learn all of the details of the defamation incident, which confirms its occurrence in a clear and reliable manner.
3- Defamation
It is defined as the clear and documented occurrence of defamation through traditional means of publication, as well as social communication sites.
If you are exposed to a defamation situation, all you have to do is communicate with the competent authorities, whether online or by going to a specialized security center and submitting a complaint, so that the legal methods against the perpetrator of the defamation crime are followed in order to obtain the punishment specified in UAE law.
Punishment for defaming and insulting on social networking sites
The UAE law is based on paying attention to all the details and acting up to the various situations that citizens are exposed to, and as a matter of the law’s concern for the reputation and dignity of people and entities, as well as limiting the spread of bad behaviors, particularly on the means of communication on the Internet. the UAE law considered insulting and defamation on social networking sites a deliberate crime with the intent of undermining the reputation, dignity, and status of others and determines the penalty for the perpetrator of this crime in accordance with Article 20 of the law includes electronic crimes, which are:
-Imprisonment or a fine ranging from AED 25,000 to AED 500,000, or both penalties.
– If the perpetrator of this crime is a foreigner, the penalty may result in his deportation from the UAE.
– If the person subjected to defamation and insult is a public sector team member or entrusted with one of the public services, the perpetrator will face severe penalties.
While there are countless ways to communicate and interact with others, there are also numerous negative situations and events to which we can be exposed, whether through direct communication or through social media. As a result, you must be familiar with the legal aspect and methods in order to obtain your right and for the perpetrator to receive the appropriate punishment under the law.
