Fake news: Video DOES NOT show man dying of Covid-19

Dubai - Spreading false and misleading information, rumours and fake news is a crime under the UAE law.

A video or photo that you may have seen today on social media about a man 'dying of Covid-19' in Dubai is fake, the Dubai Media Office has said. The said video is an old one and involved a man suffering an epileptic seizure.

"Rumour: Coronavirus victim. Truth: Man suffers epileptic seizure," the media office tweeted as it shared a photo of the man lying motionless on the ground, with several other residents seen at a distance.

On Tuesday, the Community Development Authority (CDA) denied a rumour being circulated on social media platforms, which falsely claimed there would be communication regulations in the UAE in the wake of the Covid-19 fears.

A message that went viral and falsely attributed to the CDA said all phone calls will be recorded and social media communication, including on WhatsApp and Facebook, will be monitored.

Spreading false and misleading information, rumours and fake news is a crime under the UAE law. Such malicious acts threaten the safety and stability of the community.

As Khaleej Times reported previously, spreading rumours is a crime in the UAE punishable with jail term and a hefty fine of up to Dh3 million.

Rumour: Coronavirus victim
Truth: Man suffers epileptic seizure pic.twitter.com/eZfffYrC6e
- Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 1, 2020

• Dubai