Amid the ongoing Iran-US-Israel war and regional tensions in the Middle East, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has issued a cautionary notice for citizens residing in the Emirates.
It has advised citizens against recording or uploading imagery of incident sites on digital media platforms. The mission's statement noted that UAE authorities have warned of strict action against any individual found filming incident locations, restricted zones or airport interiors without authorisation.
The following measures are to be strictly followed by Indian nationals in the UAE:
- When you hear a warning alert, proceed immediately to a safe place and remain there until the warning alert has been lifted for your area. Do not attempt to go outside to take photographs or record videos.
- Strictly avoid sharing or publishing images of incident sites, including damage from projectiles or shrapnel, via digital or social media platforms.
- In the event of shrapnel falling or if you discover suspicious objects in your vicinity, report them immediately to the competent authorities to enable them to handle the situation safely and swiftly. Please stay away from the location and do not approach or touch any parts.
- Do not take photographs or record videos inside the airport during arrival or departure.
Moreover, the embassy noted that in the view of the current situation, Abu Dhabi urges all Indian nationals residing in or visiting the UAE to strictly adhere to the local laws and safety.
UAE cracks down on misinformation
Authorities in the UAE said they have detected a surge in circulation of false news, fabricated videos and misleading images related to the ongoing military confrontation and other developments in the region.
As per legal experts, spreading rumours or unverified information in the UAE is a criminal offence under the country's UAE Cybercrime and Rumours Law.
Article 52 of the law stipulates a minimum prison sentence of one year and a fine of AED 100,000 for anyone who uses the internet to publish or republish false news, misleading reports or malicious rumours that contradict officially announced information.
If the spreading of such information incites public opinion, spreads panic, harms public security or the national economy, then the same article increases the penalty to at least two years in prison and a fine of Dh200,000.
Thus, it is vital to rely on verified sources and refrain from resharing any image or video just because it's viral and claims to be related to the current situation.
