Unfiltered Snapchat content raises concern in the UAE

The EU, Switzerland, India and the UAE are looking to revamp their laws. Action by regulators for hosting illicit content could include fines or even blocking services.

ABU DHABI // The popularity of Snapchat is presenting challenges for regulators trying to ensure that content adheres to social norms.

Tareq Masarweh, a senior consultant with consultancy Ovum, said monitoring content in the “over-the-top” telecoms sector – which includes social media apps such as Snapchat – is being looked at by countries, including the UAE, which are looking to update laws.

A problem with the app is that content goes directly from so-called Snappers to the masses without any filtration or censorship stage, Mr Masarweh said.

Unlike Facebook or Instagram, where users only see content from accounts they choose to follow, Snapchat users have content pushed on them, such as videos that appear in the “Discover” section.

It also has a feature through which most content is deleted 24 hours after posting.

“I don’t really think it imposes any threats on national security, but rather could offend local customs of certain people within the region,” Mr Masarweh said.

“Violent, political, offensive and adult content is being regulated by more advanced economies through digital laws and updated policies that govern over-the-top behaviour in economies.”

He said that the EU, Switzerland, India and the UAE were looking to revamp their laws. Action by regulators for hosting illicit content could include fines or even blocking services.

Posting guidelines differ between social media apps. Snapchat’s appears more liberal. In its community guidelines, it states, “Not all nudity is taboo”, and some images “in a wholly non-sexual context are permissible”.

Last week, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) said it had followed up on complaints over content on Snapchat.

The TRA contacted the company, but because videos are deleted 24 hours after posting it was not clear whether the content was removed or had expired.

It is this Snapchat feature that keeps mother-of-four Amal Al Maamari apprehensive.

“Bullying or cybercrimes can happen through Snapchat because the content gets deleted,” said the Abu Dhabi resident. For that reason, Ms Al Maamari said she would not allow her children to use the app.

Since its launch five years ago, Snapchat use has taken off in the GCC, with one study describing it as the fastest-growing platform in the region because of privacy concerns with Facebook and Twitter.

Mr Masarweh said his take on dealing with objectionable content was to look at the bigger picture and concentrate on the app’s benefits, while ignoring irrelevant and unwanted posts.