New cybercrimes law: Jail, up to Dh2 million fine for circumventing IP address to commit crime

UAE Public Prosecution raises awareness on the country’s cybercrimes law

Last updated: March 10, 2022 | 11:57

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Dubai: Misusing IT services to circumvent your IP address online to commit a crime is a serious offence and can land you in jail as well with as a fine of Dh2 million, UAE’s Public Prosecution has warned.

In a post on its official social media accounts on March 9, the authority highlighted the penalty for IP address circumvention on the World Wide Web with the intention of committing a crime.

According to Article 10 of the Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021, on Combatting Rumours and Cybercrimes, whoever circumvents the computer network’s IP address using an address of a third or by any other means with the intent to commit an offence or prevent the discovery thereof, shall be sentenced to temporary imprisonment and/or a fine ranging between Dh500,000 and not more than Dh2 million.

An IP or Internet Protocol address is a unique identifying number assigned to a specific device or computer network that connects to the internet.