A social media celebrity in Abu Dhabi has been sent to jail for a recent stunt.
The influencer was convicted of driving on a public road with speeds over 205 kmph.
The court also convicted a second person for ‘participating in the crime of asking the celebrity to drive at a high speed and filming him to publish the video to create excitement on social media to increase the number of viewers’, according to UAE’s state news agency WAM.
Both of the accused were sent to jail for three months, plus an AED 100,000 fine each.
The celebrity had their car and phones confiscated and had their license for six months.
On top of that, both the convicted were also banned from using social media platforms for six months.
The clip is also gone—the court ordered ordered the erasing of the video clip and closure of the social media accounts used for the purpose, and ordered the two accused to pay legal fees.
The Abu Dhabi court also explained that the authorities while monitoring negative phenomena and violations on social media, spotted a video clip showing a social media celebrity driving his luxury vehicle at speeds of 205 kmph on one of the main inner streets of Abu Dhabi Island.
Having influence is a double edged sword. According to the court, because the accused has a strong adolescent fanbase, and the video showed them bragging about the car’s horsepower, this could influence their fans negatively and encourage copycats, which could pose dangers to the lives of others.
Article 348 of theUAE’s Federal Penal Code states, “Whoever willfully commits an act which exposes the life, health, security, or freedom of people to danger, shall be punished by detention, by a fine, or either of these two penalties.”
Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution have also asked social media celebrities to post responsible media content to their audiences, especially since most of their followers are teenagers and young adults who consider them role models.
Drive safe, and influence responsibly, everyone.
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