Those who don’t comply could get their accounts shut down.
Back in March, it was announced that social media influencers who make money from their accounts would need to apply for licences from the UAE’s National Media Council.
Now, they’ve got two weeks to apply for their licences, or they could face fines up to Dhs5,000 and the closure of their accounts, The National reports.
Read:
Social media influencers in the UAE will now need a licence
Government controls on influencers should be tighter, national council says
The rules apply to people and organisations who carry out commercial activities on social media and online. They have three months to complete the licencing process, The National says, but they must have their applications in before the start of June.
Influencers will need to have trade licences in place before they can apply for e-media licences, according to the site. Trade licence fees vary, and the new e-media licence will cost Dhs15,000.
“The Electronic Media Regulations form an essential component of regulating the media sector and have been enacted as a response to the rapid growth and spread of electronic media,” the council’s executive director of media affairs, Dr Rashid Al Nuaimi, told The National.
“The aim of the regulations is to enhance competitiveness, increase reliability and support the provision of balanced, responsible and impartial media content that respects the privacy of individuals and protects society’s various segments from negative influences.”
The rules do not apply to social media pages and blogs which are not commercial in nature, the council said.
Publishing, media and digital businesses that already have licences don’t need to secure new ones, and school, college, university and government websites are also exempt.
If you need to apply for a licence, you can do so through the National Media Council’s website.
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