In its latest
Social Media awareness document, the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory
Authority (TRA) issued its White
Paper focusing on You Tube at the end of December.
It
highlights the terms and conditions of the most popular social networks in use
in the UAE which has more than one billion unique visitors every month and over
100 hours of video uploaded every minute.
YouTube, the video sharing website, allows
billions of people to discover, watch and share originally created videos.
Registered users can upload an unlimited number of videos and leave comments on
other videos. Much of the content is filmed and uploaded by individuals.
The
laws of the UAE prohibit the publication of content
- which is contrary to public morals,
- the principles of Islam,
- the social and moral welfare of the UAE, or
- any content that contains irreverence towards Islam and any other heavenly religions.
The
content must also respect the UAE government, its leadership, political
institutions and ultimately the UAE’s cultural heritage and social norms and
customs.
The
TRA’s You Tube
White Paper highlights the following information as a priority for all
respective subscribers:
1. Users are prohibited from undertaking predatory behavior, stalking, threats and
harassment of others. Harassment could include copying a user's channel layout,
using a similar username, or posing as another person. Any user found to be
doing these things may be permanently banned from YouTube. “Spam” style
communications are also banned.
2. Users must only upload videos which they have made or which they are authorized
to use.
3. YouTube is owned by Google. In using the YouTube service, users agree to
Google’s terms relating to the collection and sharing of their personal
information.
The
TRA’s UAE Social Media White Papers collection includes directives for
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Yahoo/Flickr, LinkedIn, Gmai, Microsoft Outlook, Apple
Store, Blackberry and Keek.
YouTube’s
Community Guidelines are designed to reduce abuse of the site's features. In particular,
users must not upload content:
•
Of a pornographic or sexually explicit nature;
•
Which encourages dangerous or illegal activities including instructional bomb
making, drug use, or other acts where serious injury may result;
•
Which includes graphic or gratuitous violence, or accidents. Documentary style
content may be acceptable, but content that is mainly intended to be shocking,
sensational or disrespectful is not;
•
Which promotes violence or hatred against individuals or groups based on
certain attributes such as race or religion.
The
invasion of other people’s privacy and the sharing of other people’s personal
information is prohibited. Private information could include personal details
as well as other information such as comments, images and videos.
UAE
law contains broad provisions relating to the protection of privacy and
reputation. The TRA says users should be aware of the risk under UAE law of claims for
defamation and breach of privacy involving the use of videos and images of
other people without consent.
The full versions of the various White Papers can be read on the TRA’s official website: http://www.tra.gov.ae/White_Paper.php
