UAE residents could be sued for misuse of networking websites

Social networking websites have become source of rumours and false information and efforts must be made to combat the misuse of these sites, according to participants in a seminar on “Social media networks and how it is affecting UAE society” organised by the Dubai Judicial Institute.

They stressed that the UAE could criminalise misuse of social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook and libel laws could be invoked against offenders.

Dr Jamal Sumaiti, director of the Dubai Judicial Institute, said social networking sites are public places which can give wide publicity to any opinion.

Dr Sumaiti called on the legislature to revise the law to make it possible for third parties to take legal action in cases of libel through such websites. Currently, only victims of libel can pursue legal action in such cases.

He said social networking sites are being used to defame and insult senior officials.

He said some people are taking undue advantage of the absence of UAE laws regulating electronic publishing but it is possible to use the general principles of law against such offenders.

Dr Sumaiti said the Kuwait Court of Cassation had ruled that Twitter is a public place but subject to the Kuwaiti Penal Code which is very close to UAE law. He called on the UAE legislature to develop laws against excesses in the use of social networking sites