Traditional stakeholder in the UAE media landscape have long taken local laws regarding privacy and defamation into consideration when formulating editorial policy. However, especially as social media influencers and user-generated content play an increasingly prominent role in the entertainment and communication sectors, it is worth examining where to find the correct balance between freedom of expression (a constitutional right in the UAE) and individuals’ rights to protect their privacy and reputation.
The right to privacy is protected under several UAE statutes. In line with the EU’s GDPR, the UAE Data Protection Act enables residents to control how their personal data is process