OPINION: The UK Can Learn From The UAE By Stamping Out Online Racism
The UK’s incredible performance in the EUROs 2020 which took a young team to the finals was marred by the immediate and shocking bouts of racism that followed online.
Three Black players, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka are facing shocking racial abuse after they missed their penalty kicks in the EUROs final versus Italy.
The UK’s Prince William, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the English Football Association responded to the abuse. Prime William says he’s sickened, Johnson said, “those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves” and the English Football Association says it strongly condemns all forms of racism.’ But what’s actually being done?
A petition was created by the UK public to incite parliament to encourage new regulation for social media, namely that people should need an ID to create a social media account This petition hit one million signatures in 24 hours and proves the UK gov a job to do. The UK must work towards definitively stamping out racism… And they might look to the UAE for guidance.
English Football says the disgusting behaviour is not welcome
We strongly condemn all forms of discrimination and are appalled by the online racism that has been aimed at some of our England players on social media.
We could not be clearer that anyone behind such disgusting behaviour is not welcome in following the team.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the men are heroes
This England team deserve to be lauded as heroes, not racially abused on social media.
Those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) July 12, 2021
Keyboard warriors and the vitriol they spout are a bane to society, but one which we see less of here in the UAE thanks to strict cybercrime laws
Strict cybercrime laws here mean the people are protected.
The defamation laws in the UAE are extremely strict and are not just focused on businesses, they also focus on individuals. Threatening people, and gossiping about people online is a criminal offense. Doing so is punishable by law and could land you in jail.
Using a middle finger emoji against someone can be seen as a threat and can be taken up in courts. These simple rules result in a level of respect that transcends online culture in the UAE.
Keyboard warriors are everywhere, but thanks to UAE cybercrime laws, they are decidedly less here. Of course, there’s negativity, (hi Facebook groups, we see you) but internet trolls here are tamer, and as the UK must now work to seek a future that strictly prohibits racism, they might look to laws here in the UAE for guidance.
@arashzadSocial Media rules. ##legal ##law ##lawyer ##lawyers ##lawyerlife ##lawyertiktok ##ArashZad ##ForYouPage ##LearnOnTiktok ##Education ##socialmedia ##rules♬ SOLD OUT – Devin Kennedy
