Judicial Institute raises awareness on fake news crimes

April 13, 2026 / 2:41 PM

Sharjah24: The Sharjah Institute of Judicial Sciences organised an awareness lecture titled “Legal insights into the crime of spreading rumours and false news” to enhance legal awareness of the dangers of sharing unverified information. This is part of the Judicial Department's commitment to promoting legal culture and reinforcing security and stability in society.

The lecture was delivered by Dr Saeed Hassan Balhaj, Chief Public Prosecutor, who reviewed the concept of rumours from social, psychological and legal perspectives. He emphasised that rumours are unverified information circulated without checking their sources, and that they may harm the public interest and cause concern within the community.

Causes and impact of misinformation

The lecture also addressed the reasons for the spread of rumours, such as a lack of information, weak media literacy, and misuse of social media platforms, as well as their negative impact on societal security and stability.

Legal consequences in the UAE

It further stressed that UAE legislation criminalises the publication or circulation of false news, imposing legal penalties on offenders, and called on the public to ensure accuracy and to obtain information from official sources.