The UAE Cybercrimes Law – Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 – came into effect on January 2, 2022, replacing the previous law – Federal Law No. 5 of 2012 on Combatting Cybercrimes.
The law stipulates offences and penalties against any person who may create or use an electronic site, or any information technology means for hacking, attacking, or tampering with government information systems and data, disseminating false information, or information that harms the interest and the security of the UAE. Other cyber offences in the law include:
- blackmailing and extortion.
- creating or modifying robots to distribute false data.
- falsifying electronic documents.
- invading the privacy of others.
- tampering with medical data, bank accounts and. confidential codes.
- publishing data that does not comply with media content standards.
- creating illegal content and refraining from removing it.
- creating or managing a website for promoting human trafficking.
- transferring, possessing, and using illegal funds.
- raising funds without a license.
- insulting and slandering others.
- promoting demonstrations without a license.
According to Article 13 of the Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combatting Rumors and Cybercrimes, whoever uses information technology or any means of information technology to collect, archive or process personal information and data relating to Emiratis or residents of the UAE in contravention of the legislation in force in the State shall be sentenced to detention and/or a fine ranging between AED50,000 and AED500,000.
Article (11) of the Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on combatting rumors and cybercrimes, stipulates that any person who creates fake website, online account or e-mail, impersonating a natural or legal person, shall be subject to imprisonment and a fine of not less than AED 50,000 and not more than AED 200,000, or one of the two penalties.
The Public Prosecution further elaborated that the offender shall be imprisoned for a minimum of two years, if they use or allow any person to use the fake website, online account or e-mail to cause harm to the impersonated victim.
A penalty of imprisonment of not more than five years, and a fine of not less than AED 200,000 and not more than AED 2,000,000, shall be applicable if such fake website, online account or e-mail impersonates any UAE entity.
According to Article 14 of the Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combatting Rumors and Cybercrimes, whoever falsifies any of the electronic documents of the Federal or Local Government, or federal or local public authorities or organizations shall be sentenced to temporary imprisonment and/or a fine ranging between AED150,000 and AED750,000.
In the case of falsification of documents of any entity not stated above, the penalty shall be detention and/or a fine ranging between AED100,000 and AED300,000.
Moreover, whoever knowingly uses the falsified electronic document shall be sentenced to the penalty prescribed for offence of falsification.
According to Article 8 of the Federal Decree-Law No.34 of 2021 on Combatting Rumors and Cybercrimes, whoever obtains, acquires, modifies, destroys, divulges, makes available, cancels, deletes, amends, reproduces, publishes or republishes any confidential information or data pertaining to a financial, commercial or economic institution using information technology or an information technology means shall be sentenced to temporary imprisonment for a minimum term of five years and a fine ranging between AED500,000 and AED3,000,000.
according to Article 19 of Federal Decree-Law No. (34) of 2021 on combatting rumors and cybercrimes, any person managing a website or an electronic account that that publishes any content, data or information that fail to meet media content standards issued by the competent authorities shall be subject to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year and a fine of no less than AED30,000 and not more than AED300,000, or one of the two penalties.
According to Article No. 33 of Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combating rumors and Cybercrimes, any person who incites or entices another to engage in prostitution or debauchery or assist therein, using a computer network or any means of information technology shall be sentenced to temporary imprisonment or a fine ranging between AED 250,000 and AED 1,000,000.
Disclaimer: one of the sources for this article is the official portal of the UAE Government