UAE: Freedom of Expression in Focus as E-Government Targets “Electronic Flies”
The UAE has introduced new measures that limit freedom of expression, reduce civil liberties, and silence dissent, all under the pretext of “combating electronic flies,” a strategy widely recognized for promoting incitement and spreading misinformation.
The Emirates Center for Human Rights has stated that the recent campaign initiated by Abu Dhabi, under the guise of fighting “electronic flies,” is intended to suppress civil space and stifle dissenting voices.
The center remarked that “the closure of civil space in the UAE, along with the imposition of stringent restrictions on freedom of expression, and the ongoing policy of silencing those who demand rights and freedoms, poses a serious threat to Emirati society.”
Recently, Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the UAE’s National Media Office, launched the “Campaign to Combat Electronic Flies” to combat accounts that criticize government performance. The UAE Journalists Association supported this initiative, encouraging public participation.
The head of the association, Fadhila Al Muaini, connected the campaign to the UAE’s broader efforts to enhance security and stability in the region, framing it as a response to fake accounts designed to spread misinformation.
This campaign coincides with the absence of an independent national press in the UAE, a country known for banning newspapers and websites that discuss public issues, including the independent news outlet “Emirates 71.”
Over the past two years, the government has enacted increasingly restrictive laws on press freedom, such as the “Law on Combating Rumors and Electronic Crimes,” and expanded penalties for journalists through the Penal Code. Despite international calls for greater freedom of opinion and expression, the UAE Journalists Association has remained silent on these laws.
A report from the organization “Journalists Without Chains,” published in September of last year, highlights that there is no independent union for male and female journalists in the UAE to defend their rights.
The UAE Journalists Association, established in 2000, has had its bylaws amended multiple times, most recently in 2022. However, its leadership is elected through a controlled process overseen by a government committee from the Ministry of Community Development.
The association’s bylaws forbid journalist members from “interfering in matters related to state security or governance, or inciting sectarian, racial, or religious conflicts,” and require adherence to all UAE laws and regulations.
The association’s bylaws prohibit members from “interfering in issues related to state security, the system of governance, or inciting sectarian, racial, or religious conflicts,” while also mandating adherence to all laws and regulations in the UAE.
This vaguely defined clause serves as a tool for the association to revoke the membership of journalists who deviate from the state’s policies. Moreover, the association avoids discussing the situation of Emirati journalists or their interactions with the government.
