Up to Dh200K fine, jail term for accessing data without approval

abu dhabi — If you are found accessing websites, electronic information systems, computer networks or information technology without prior authorisation in the UAE, you could be imprisoned and fined upto Dh200,000.

The UAE Public Prosecution has warned against accessing information without authorisation whether it is intended to obtain government data or confidential information relating to a financial, commercial and economical facilities.

In a video clip posted Friday on its social media platforms, the public prosecution clarified the punishment for committing such actions, which are considered a cybercrime under the UAE Law.

According to Article 4 of the Federal Decree – Law No. 5 of 2012 on combating cybercrimes, anyone found violating the law shall be punished with temporary imprisonment and a fine not less than Dh250,000 and not in excess of Dh150,0000.

The punishment also includes imprisonment for a period of at least five years and a fine not less than Dh500,000 and not in excess of Dh2,000,000, if any data or information is deleted, omitted, deteriorated, destructed, disclosed, altered, copied, published or republished.

The public prosecution highlighted the importance of the Federal Decree – Law No. 5 of 2012 on combating cybercrimes, emphasising its role in fighting new crimes. “Under this law, these crimes can be addressed in a constitutional and legal deterrent manner that minimises the negative impacts resulting from the misuse of modern technologies” it added.