Tougher cyber crimes law proposed

The Federal National Council this month is expected to review a draft law seeking more than three years in prison and a fine of up to Dh2 million for IP address forgery with criminal intent

Federal Law No 5 of 2012 on combating cyber crimes covers a host of crimes such as forging or producing duplicates of credit cards or civil cards, or using information technology to extort or threaten people online. Key crimes covered are:

Pornography

This involves creating or operating a website to send, transmit, publish or promote pornographic material, gambling activities and other indecent acts.

Prostitution

Attempting to, or helping others solicit prostitution, or urging, or enticing others to engage in an act of prostitution.

Invading privacy

Using an electronic network or information technology to violate privacy by eavesdropping; intercepting, recording or disclosing conversations, communications, audio and video material; taking photographs; creating electronic photos of others, disclosing, copying or saving them; publishing news, electronic photographs or photographs or scenes, comments, data and information even if they are authentic.

Promoting terrorism

Creating or running a website to promote any terrorist groups and any unlicensed society, organisation or body, to facilitate contacts with their leaders or to solicit new members, promote the thoughts thereof, to finance their activities, to provide funds and actual help for its activities, or, for that matter, to promote the making of incendiary devices, explosives or any devices used in terrorist acts.

Soliciting donations

Creating or running an electronic site to raise online or through any information technology means, calling for the raising of donations without authorisation from the competent authorities.