GamerS are at riSk Of fallinG intO trapS Of terrOriStS

DUBAI — Electronic games can make you an introvert and also make you lose the sense of time, warned the Dubai Police’s Al Ameen service.

“There are many hidden aspects of involving in electronic games. The most prominent is the interactive conversations with unknown people, extreme intellectual manipulation to achieve a special agenda, and also extorting the player financially if he wants to move to higher levels in the game.”

In a press statement, it highlighted that the use of electronic games is still a subject of debate, although it has attracted both young and old since its inception in the 1970s.

Al Ameen pointed out that some interactive electronic games are full of violence and destruction and children and adolescents get used to it. “Violence becomes easy and natural reaction to the attitudes of the gamers’ daily lives changes within time. Using specific information like the age group, nature of the work, living conditions or psychological balance, these strangers manipulate their personalities, sense of justice and make them easy prey to fall into traps.”

Al Ameen media office stressed the electronic games are a threat to the security of individuals and society. “Extremist organisations use experienced personalities to influence human behaviour using psychological manipulation. Their work begins with a random selection of individuals. Then comes the systematic selection stage according to the information collected — short-term and longterm,” said the media statement.

“Luring of victims takes place in gradual indirect steps to win their confidence. The objectives of these organisations or groups vary — looking for funds taking advantage of the players’ desire to move to next levels; looking for information for the deconstruction of communities and penetration of ideas, as well as hit the national unity of states and shake people’s confidence in their governments.”