2 January 2015

UAE's TRA publishes YouTube usage guidelines

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the UAE has launched guidelines to YouTube usage as part of The UAE Social Media White Papers collection. 

The TRA notes that YouTube has more than 1 billion unique visitors every month and over 100 hours of video uploaded every minute, and stated that the laws of the UAE prohibit the publication of content which is contrary to public morals, the principles of Islam and the social and moral welfare of the UAE, or any content that contains irreverence towards Islam and any other heavenly religions. The content must also respect the UAE Government, its leadership, political institutions and ultimately the UAE’s cultural heritage and social norms and customs. 

The white paper on YouTube lists the following guidelines: 

  • Users are prohibited from undertaking predatory behaviour, stalking, threats and harassment of others. Harassment could include copying a user’s channel layout, using a similar username or posing as another person. 
  • Users must only upload videos which they have made or which they are authorised to use. 
  • YouTube is owned by Google. In using the YouTube service, users agree to Google’s terms relating to the collection and sharing of their personal information.

The TRA has an extensive collection of white papers with guidelines on various Internet services and social networks. White papers on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Yahoo/Flickr; LinkedIn; Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, the Apple Store, Blackberry and Keek are also available here