The UAE Media Council has launched legal proceedings against a social media advertiser after discovering an ad that made unsubstantiated medical claims without approval from relevant authorities.
The Council stated that the advertisement contained unsubstantiated medical and therapeutic claims for a product, and lacked official approval from the relevant health authority. Officials said that the ad also contained misleading information in violation of professional media standards, following which the advertiser has been summoned and legal action taken against them in accordance with the prevailing laws.
This reflects the Council's ongoing efforts to protect people from deceptive content and ensure a responsible digital advertising environment. Advertisers, influencers, and brands are being urged to comply with the rules or face legal action and penalties.
To strengthen oversight, the Council had recently introduced mandatory permits for all digital advertisers, including content creators and influencers. More than 1,800 permits have already been issued to applicants, according to a recent announcement made by the UAE Media Council.
The permits, free for the first three years, will be compulsory by the end of October. Each permit holder must display their licence number clearly on their social media platforms, and advertising through unregistered accounts will not be allowed. To know more about this mandate, read Connector's story HERE.