The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken a significant step to regulate the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI), declaring that portraying celebrities or national symbols through AI without prior permission will now be considered illegal. The UAE Media Council issued a stern warning, stating that creating or distributing unauthorized AI-generated images of famous personalities and national symbols, or disseminating misleading content, constitutes a clear violation of the country’s media laws.
The council emphasized that such activities are not only breaches of professional and ethical responsibility but will also lead to strict legal consequences. Offenders may face heavy fines and administrative penalties. The public has been urged to refrain from using AI tools in ways that could damage identities or undermine national values.
According to UAE regulations, AI-generated depictions of celebrities or national symbols without government approval will be considered a serious violation of media law. Additionally, hate speech, false propaganda, character assassination, and attacks on social values have been declared unacceptable. The council warned that such negative activities will invite substantial financial penalties as well as legal action.
In recent years, the UAE has tightened its social media regulations to protect the public from fake news and harmful content. Globally, concerns are rising about the misuse of AI. Several internationally renowned figures have reported cases where their voices and faces were fraudulently replicated using AI, causing reputational damage.
The UAE will also introduce a new advertising license system starting next month. So far, more than 1,800 permits have been issued to individuals from 75 countries under this system. Recently, the Media Council also took action against a social media account that published an unauthorized advertisement making medical claims, which was later deemed misleading and substandard.
