Daijiworld Media Network (SR)

UAE, Jun 27:  It has been over a year since the National Media Council announced the legal requirements for social media influencers to operate, but unlicensed influencers are yet to abide by the rules and are flouting the norms.

There is a team dedicated for monitoring illegal activities on social media and other online platforms and they are still making calls to warn unlicensed paid social media influencers, said a top official from NMC.

From March 2018, it became mandatory for all social media influencers in the UAE to get licence from the National Media Council. The applicants first have to get a permit/trade licence from an economic zone in one of the seven emirates and the licence fee was Dh15,000.

As per Khaleej Times, Nasser Al Tamimi, manager of Media Licensing Department at the NMC told the publication that "Paid influencers operating without a licence invite a fine of Dh5,000. We are discovering new numbers (of paid influencers operating without a licence) every day. When we encounter any illegal activity, we call and warn them and if it is repeated, we will fine them."

In a press conference held by Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), Tamimi announced that there is a growth in the number of media licences and freelancer permits issued. The licence issued went up from 130 last year to 360 this year, recording an increase of 177 percent, added Tamimi.