A British tourist arrested after allegedly filming missiles hitting Dubai is facing two years in prison after being charged with a cybercrime.
The 60-year-old Londoner, who was detained on Monday night, is said to have deleted the video immediately when asked. He insists he did not mean to break the law.
However, he has been charged alongside 20 others over videos and social media posts relating to recent Iranian missile strikes on the UAE, according to campaign group Detained in Dubai.
The official allegation relates to ‘broadcasting, publishing, republishing or circulating rumours or provocative propaganda that could disturb public security’.
The offence carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison.
The Dubai government heavily polices social media and responded to the outbreak of war by threatening jail against anyone sharing information that ‘results in inciting panic among people’.
Videos of drone and missile strikes were regularly shared on social media in the early days of the conflict, but these have largely disappeared following the official clampdown.
They have been largely replaced by a deluge of glowing posts about Dubai’s government from western influencers based in the city, often containing suspiciously similar language.
A plume of smoke her Dubai Airport on March 1. The airport came under attack from drones yesterday
One viral trend has seen influencers sharing clips that begin with the question ‘are you scared?’ before showing photos of Dubai leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum alongside the words, ‘I know who protects us’.
Sceptical social media users have responded by claiming the influencers are being paid by the UAE government to pump out pro-regime ‘propaganda’, although several have spoken out to deny this.
Following his arrest, the British tourist was kept at Bur Dubai police station – where British businessman Lee Brown died in 2011 having been held for five days following an alleged assault.
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said: ‘Under UAE cybercrime laws, one post can lead to many arrests. Anyone who shares, reposts or comments on the same content can face the same charges. and be named on the same charge sheet.
‘The charges are vague and broad but serious nonetheless. Those charged could face lengthy prison sentences.
‘Residents could also be detained under national security laws, held indefinitely, denied access to their embassy and be subjected to human rights abuses. In times of tension, extreme caution is advised.’
Influencers have responded to Iranian attacks by sharing images of Dubai leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum alongside the words, ‘I know who protects us’
One expert said that it appeared ‘suspicious’ that the videos were identical and could have started out as a ‘paid trend’
There are strict laws about criticising or insulting the UAE government or causing ‘reputational harm’ to the country which can result in fines of up to £200,000, or up to five years in prison, and possibly deportation.
Sentences are even harsher if you own property there.
The tough stance is believed to have encouraged self-censorship by influencers in the Gulf state, with earlier clips of Iranian drone and missile attacks now swamped by posts repeating the ‘I know who protects us’ meme.
Few influencers will speak about content laws, but Marc Owen Jones, Associate Professor of Media Analytics at Northwestern University in Qatar, said the identical videos were ‘suspicious’.
He was unable to confirm whether the influencers were being paid but did believe there was a strong likelihood that they were in order to emphasise the appearance of safety and stability in the country.
However, he highlighted that the trend may have picked up organically with other – unpaid – influencers recreating similar videos to appear patriotic.
The posts cut to a montage of Al Maktoum being greeted by adoring crowds
Professor Jones said: ‘At the moment I don’t know for sure if they are paid or not, but my expert opinion is that this started as a paid trend, an attempt to overemphasise the safety of Dubai since the perception of stability is so important for the country.
‘The issue is when trends go viral, people replicate them and they become just that, a ‘trend’.
‘I also wonder in an authoritarian context if people think posting such content becomes a way of flagging themselves as patriotic and spreading information that will be viewed positively by the authorities.
‘The fact that some of the clips are identical is suspicious, but also the affordances of TikTok and Instagram allow for ‘remixing’ while changing very little.’
