UAE’s Online Freedom Ranked Low Globally, Labeled ‘Not Free’

The UAE ranked at the bottom of a global online freedom index, with the non-governmental organization “Freedom House” labeling it as “not free” in its recently published annual report.

The UAE scored just 30 out of 100 points on internet freedom, based on three key indicators: barriers to access, content restrictions, and violations of user rights.

According to the organization, internet freedom in the UAE remains heavily restricted. Despite the lifting of bans on some prominent websites, internet users face government surveillance, arrests, and harassment due to their peaceful online activities.

Authorities and government supporters are using advanced technology to spread misleading information that reinforces pro-government narratives on social media.

Social media bots have distorted online narratives by advocating pro-UAE political positions on several regional events, including the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai in November and December 2023.

The organization confirmed that several Emirati citizens and foreign residents were summoned, interrogated, arrested, and deported for expressing solidarity with the Palestinians on social media.

It was noted that the internet infrastructure in the UAE is centralized under government supervision, granting authorities the ability to block platforms or restrict access to the internet.

Internet service providers in the UAE are wholly or partially state-owned, enabling the authorities to manage the flow of information.

The two largest mobile telecommunications companies in the country, Etisalat and du, are under government control. The government retains a 60% stake in Etisalat and a 50.1% stake in du through its ownership in the Emirates Investment Company. Additionally, several state-owned enterprises hold shares in du.

Etisalat and du enjoy an effective monopoly in the telecommunications industry. However, many foreign and local entities operating in the audiovisual media sector are licensed and regulated by the UAE government through the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, which is the sole regulatory body for information and communication technology in the country.

Entities may appeal decisions made by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, but there is no standardized legal process for appeals; these are evaluated by committees within the authority.

The authority provides internet guidelines for website owners and internet service providers, prioritizing public order, ethics, and data security. These guidelines are designed to ensure compliance with UAE regulations, and failure to comply may lead to the suspension of company services.

Specifically, service providers and website owners must ensure that their content does not fall into any of the 19 categories of prohibited content, which include impersonation, defamation, crimes against the UAE, public order offenses, blasphemy, and more.

The organization states that regulatory authorities in the UAE often do not operate in a fair and transparent manner.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority—previously known as the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority—supervises service providers and makes executive decisions on monitoring, filtering, and blocking services and websites, all without any oversight or transparency.

While the Internet Regulation Law requires internet service providers to block content related to terrorism, pornography, gambling, and political speech that threatens the ruling regime, authorities in practice also block websites that criticize the government or touch on social taboos.

A report by Citizen Lab from 2018 indicates that internet service providers utilize tools like NetSweeper to enforce content censorship. The organization also recorded instances of websites being blocked in the UAE due to NetSweeper incorrectly categorizing them as pornographic, including the World Health Organization.

Additionally, the restrictions on digital content are characterized by a lack of proportionality and fairness. The Internet Regulation Law directs internet service providers to prohibit content related to terrorism, pornography, gambling, and political speech that is considered a threat to the ruling regime.

Content is frequently deleted online without transparency or judicial oversight. According to the Cybercrime Law, intermediaries, such as domain hosts or administrators, can be held accountable if their websites are used to “incite unrest, hatred, racism, or sectarianism, jeopardize national unity or social peace, or violate public order and morals.”

As a result, self-censorship online has increased in recent years due to the risks of legal action or harassment in retaliation for online activities, along with high levels of surveillance.

Almost no one in the UAE discusses political issues or other sensitive topics. Local news websites, many of which are state-owned, practice self-censorship in accordance with government regulations and informal red lines.

Indeed, press freedom is quite limited, and foreign journalists and scholars are frequently barred from entry or deported for voicing their opinions on political matters, which further restricts the environment for online expression.