A 60-year-old British tourist is among 20 people charged in Dubai under UAE cybercrime laws for filming and sharing material related to Iranian missile attacks. The man, from London, was arrested after police found a video of an Iranian missile strike on his phone, despite him having deleted it when challenged.
The charges, brought under a law prohibiting material that could disturb public security, carry penalties of up to two years in prison and fines between £4,000 and £40,000. Foreign nationals also face deportation. The case was highlighted by Detained in Dubai, a legal assistance group.
Radha Stirling, head of Detained in Dubai, said the charges are vague but serious. Under UAE law, anyone who shares, reposts, or comments on such content can be charged, even if the original post was made by someone else. Multiple counts can lead to cumulative sentences.
The case underscores risks for influencers and journalists in the UAE, where sharing widely circulated war footage can lead to prosecution. Stirling warned that even reposting content from media outlets could be dangerous, as authorities crack down on material deemed to disturb public security amid heightened Middle East tensions.
