Focus: Cyber law awareness

Gulf News received a lot of reader reaction to its recent news report on the YouTube video of a driver being beaten up by an Emirati due to a road accident and the resulting social media uproar. It ended with the assaulter being arrested, along with the young man who uploaded the video of the incident, as he did so without the permission of the people involved. He had violated UAE cybercrime law. The message was loud and clear, justice will be served but it is not acceptable to take the law into your own hands in any manner - the police and judiciary exist with a clear mandate. We decided to raise this issue with readers and find out how many are actually aware of the cyber laws in the country.

“I usually upload videos related to family or friends once or twice a month through YouTube. I’ve never fallen into any trouble after uploading videos, but I know someone who has. Not enough information is available about cybercrime laws in the media.”

Gregory G. Gomes

Customer service officer

“I used to upload a lot of videos on YouTube every month when I performed with my band or went for public speaking events. Friends and family appreciated our efforts and friends, especially, gave constructive feedback about it. Earlier, I did a public speaking event about cyber bullying, so I have some knowledge of that, but I don’t have the slightest idea about cyber laws in the UAE.”

Simran R Sampat

Student

“I upload a collection of my own creation of pictures from vacations as a video on YouTube every two to three months. Sometime ago, I uploaded a video and added music to it. To my surprise, the video played on a computer but couldn’t work for mobile users. I later found out that there was a copyright issue with the music. What scares me is that my children use the internet a lot more than I do. My three-year-old son is exposed to different types of online games and my eight-year-old daughter does projects on the internet. I fear what is yet to come. I appreciate the initiative by the telecom providers for keeping those websites blocked that contain adult and violent material. But, apart from keeping the websites blocked, people are not informed about what else to do.”

Dr John Mathew

Talent development manager

“Previously, I used to upload a video every month, which was about friends or something entertaining. Being a freelance journalist, I am aware of certain laws before I upload a content that could put me at risk. Even though we have enough information available, the authorities should still take the responsibility of listing the guidelines of cyber laws and create awareness about it.”

Aisha Yaqub

Journalist and photographer

“I have uploaded videos once or twice in the past three years that were related to my son’s dance performances. We received a few good comments from viewers. Even though I am well aware of YouTube’s terms and conditions, I don’t know anything about the cyber laws in the UAE. I think the authorities should post the cyber laws along with the rules of websites that allows videos to be uploaded. This will make it clear for the person who uploads the video what content he or she should post online.”

Santosh Koshy George

Director of business development

“Since I am regular blogger, I upload videos regularly. They mostly relate to informative news, politics or entertainment videos. One day I uploaded a video of my son listening to the azaan [call for prayer], without anyone telling him what it is. Some of the viewers wrote hate comments, saying that my son is a terrorist. At that very moment, I took off the video from the blog. Being an IT professional, I understand the security processes that I need to undergo for uploading an online video. But, I still feel that there is not enough information available to the common man about the cyber laws.”

Adnan Ansari

IT professional

“I usually upload videos once every quarter, when I’ve given a speech and presentation. At times, they are also about friends and family. I haven’t read about the cyber laws in the UAE, but I do know they exist.”

Hemant Mundhra

Corporate finance manager

“I use Facebook to upload videos that relate to event management. Personally, I haven’t faced trouble, since I have a basic knowledge about the cyber laws in the UAE. I am well aware of the do’s and dont’s.”

Hayder Al Zuhairi

Chief executive officer

“I wouldn’t dare upload a video, and I don’t intend to because I am aware of the cyber laws that exist in the UAE. The only message I have for the authorities is that they should prepare a complete guideline that helps people living here know exactly what are the do’s and don’ts of the cyber laws. The authorities should also list the penalties and action that will be taken if someone uploads a video whose content is not right. A person should report a video to the authorities rather than directly uploading it online.”

Fatima Suhail

Student

Conclusion: Readers say there is very little awareness of UAE cybercrime laws. They feel that the authorities and the media need to step in and inform people better.

- The author is a trainee at Gulf News.