According to a Gulf News report published in March, the UAE’s Cyber Crimes Law states that a suspect who blackmails or threatens or commits any form of bullying or intimidation to dishonour or shame a victim using the telecommunication system, social media tools or the internet could face up to 10 years in jail and/or a fine ranging between Dh250,000 and Dh500,000.
Cyber bullying is a cause for concern. There are no official statistics available for online abuse, but this region has one of the world’s highest internet and mobile penetration levels, which raises the risk of cyber bullying.
A software that protects school children from cyber bullying was designed by an Ireland-based company. The software, XRayData, notifies parents of signs of bullying, indecent intimacy or inappropriate contacts on their children’s Facebook accounts, Twitter or Google Plus. A Gulf News report published in November 2013 stated that some private schools in the UAE encouraged parents to keep tabs on the social media activity of children using this software. Once the respective school provides the Irish company with a database of students whose parents installed the software, they would instantly notify the parents or schools of all the negative activities on the children’s social media channels.
The authorities in the UAE have also set up a service for people to call and be able to report cyber bullying.
In Abu Dhabi: 02 5127777
In Dubai: 04 609 6944
In Sharjah: 06 800 151
