The United Arab Emirates is considered a more liberal country in comparison to most Arab countries when it comes to internet regulation and freedom of expression. The subjects for Internet Censorship in the UAE are generally related to pornography, gambling, alcohol; material which is offensive to Islam, material which is offensive to other religions, material which is critical of the UAE government and/or ruling families, and material which is critical of the UAE standards and discretion.
The TRA or the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority is a government organization established to oversee the Telecommunications and ICT sector in the UAE. It was established in 2003 under the UAE Federal Law. The TRA is responsible for the management of every aspect of the telecommunications and information technology industries in the UAE such as Etisalat, Du, Thuraya, to name a few. To put it simply, TRA is the deciding body for internet censorship policy in the UAE.
As Business and website owners, internet and Social Media users, it is our responsibility to make sure that we calibrate our standards to that of UAE and make sure that the contents that we share to the local internet users agree with UAE censorship regulations.
You would know if your website is blocked either through a message that will appear when you search for it online or a blank page or network error message will appear instead of your website. So if you’re just starting to put up an online business, whether it’s a website or a social media page, here are some reminders to keep your business running without having to experience any censorship issues with the TRA:
Ø Do not post contents that contradict with the morals and ethical standards of UAE or contents that deal with nudity, gambling, or even dating.
Ø UAE is a country that does not just value religion, it’s their way of life and it has opened its door to people from various religions with great respect and sincerity. Avoid sharing sensitive topics on your blog or social media posts that express hate to religions.
Ø Just before you begin the operation of your website or going public with your social media business page, find time to learn and read about the UAE laws regarding policies on Internet Contents and make sure that your business provides contents that are in line with the UAE internet regulations.
Ø You might just have figured out how to unblock a site or a way to access a blocked content, but I suggest you better keep it to yourself if you do not with your contents to be a subject for inspection or scrutiny. The TRA clearly mentioned in its website to avoid creating blogs or articles that discuss tips or guides for readers to access block contents.
Ø Do not provide Internet Content that directly or indirectly constitute a risk on UAE internet users such as Phishing websites, Hacking tools & Spywares.
Ø Be careful with what you promote or share to your audience. Ignorance is never an excuse on violations you might be deemed accountable for. Be careful with what you share and make sure you do not post contents that provide information on purchasing, manufacturing, promoting and using illegal drugs.
Since the UAE is a melting pot to myriads of diverse cultures, religions, beliefs, values and ethics, language, customs, etc. there has to be a conscious effort to each one of us, whether business owner or personal internet user, to adapt to the UAE laws and be sensitive and respectful to everyone around us.
