How aware are UAE residents of cyber crime laws?

Mohammad Al Ashri, 27, Egyptian, IT Expert

I know about the cyber laws governing the UAE but I doubt that many others know about it or think that they can actually be a target or that they can be punished for something they have done online.

I am not sure about the Federal Law on Cyber Crimes but I am aware of the do’s and don’ts of Internet use. For example, I know not to post obscene pictures or a public offence and not to make offensive comments and irrelevant and baseless information. Although no body has taught me this, I practice it out of personal responsibility. 

Mohammad Al Qubaisi, Emirati, businessman and multiple website owner

As a father, I constantly warn my children who play a lot of online games, to refrain from meeting any strangers they talk to or give away their home address. I feel like yes, we do get warnings from authorities and banks and the link but I would like to see these awareness campaigns be expanded to include a wider range of criminal activity to be wary of.

I personally feel that taking pictures of, let’s say an accident or any occasion which involves trespassing into other peoples’ privacy is something that is frowned upon. I don’t just avoid it because it’s illegal; I do it out of respect [for the law]. I got into an argument with a man who was taking pictures of an accident scene where several women were lying on the ground and I told him to cover them up instead of recording them. I find it shameful when people are not sensitive to these issues.