Tuesday, Jul 26, 2011
Gulf News
Abu Dhabi: Misusing instant messaging services is punishable by law regardless of the telecommunication device being used to circulate rumours or false news.
Recently, Abu Dhabi Police warned against spreading malicious rumours through BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), and said offenders could be jailed for up to three years as per the UAE criminal code.
Mohammad Al Ganem, Director General of UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), said yesterday that people using BlackBerry, iPhone, Nokia and any other instant messaging devices to spread rumours among the members of the public and users of the service are violating the law.
In an exclusive interview, Al Ganem told Gulf News that the two service providers, etisalat and du, are obliged to follow rules and regulations that are decreed by official or judicial authorities in the country.
“This uncontrolled broadcasting of falsified information will lead to spreading fear or panic among people,” Al Ganem said.
He said spreading rumours regarding specific merchandise, or cancer-causing agents, or even mentioning names of outlets that sell such merchandise is considered illegal by the UAE law.
He urged users of instant messaging services to take care in handling unknown sources of information and called on parents to educate their children to avoid the circulation of rumours and defamatory remarks through the instant messaging services.
By Abdulla Rasheed, Abu Dhabi Editor
© Gulf News 2011. All rights reserved.
Gulf News
Abu Dhabi: Misusing instant messaging services is punishable by law regardless of the telecommunication device being used to circulate rumours or false news.
Recently, Abu Dhabi Police warned against spreading malicious rumours through BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), and said offenders could be jailed for up to three years as per the UAE criminal code.
Mohammad Al Ganem, Director General of UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), said yesterday that people using BlackBerry, iPhone, Nokia and any other instant messaging devices to spread rumours among the members of the public and users of the service are violating the law.
In an exclusive interview, Al Ganem told Gulf News that the two service providers, etisalat and du, are obliged to follow rules and regulations that are decreed by official or judicial authorities in the country.
“This uncontrolled broadcasting of falsified information will lead to spreading fear or panic among people,” Al Ganem said.
He said spreading rumours regarding specific merchandise, or cancer-causing agents, or even mentioning names of outlets that sell such merchandise is considered illegal by the UAE law.
He urged users of instant messaging services to take care in handling unknown sources of information and called on parents to educate their children to avoid the circulation of rumours and defamatory remarks through the instant messaging services.
By Abdulla Rasheed, Abu Dhabi Editor
© Gulf News 2011. All rights reserved.
