UAE regulator warns of misinformation risks as new social‑media age rules begin

The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) urged residents to verify information before forwarding messages in family group chats, highlighting common signs of fake content such as misspelled URLs, odd layouts and unverified sources. Under the UAE’s cybercrime law, forwarding false or defamatory material can be treated as a new act of publication, exposing users to legal liability even without malicious intent, according to legal experts Sam Moore and Dr Hassan Elhais.

In parallel, the UAE Cabinet’s Resolution No. 106 of 2026 introduced a minimum age of 15 for personal social‑media accounts, mandating real‑identity verification, screen‑time limits, stranger‑contact restrictions and parental‑oversight tools. Platforms that fail to comply face fines or blocking. Commentators note that while the law provides a protective layer, lasting resilience against manipulation must be built through critical‑thinking education at home.