UAE Public Prosecution warns of unauthorised access to government online data

Offenders could face fines of up to Dh1.5m and jail time

Consumers have been warned to be vigilant against cybercriminals in the run up to the New Year. Wam

People caught accessing government data or confidential files online without authorisation can face jail and up to Dh1.5m in fines, warned the UAE's Public Prosecution.

The public have been reminded about the legal implications of this criminal act in an awareness video posted by the Federal body on Friday.

Under the UAE’s cybercrime law, accessing websites to obtain confidential information from financial, commercial or economical facilities is illegal.

“This earns offenders a temporary imprisonment and a fine not less than Dh250,000 and not more that Dh1.5m,” the clip said.

Those who delete, alter, copy, or share the confidential data they illegally obtained can serve five years in prison and pay a fine of between Dh500,000 and Dh1 million if convicted.

In 2012, significant changes were made to the country’s cybercrime law creating additional categories of offences and stiffening some of the existing penalties to combat the increase of online crimes.

The Public Prosecution highlighted the importance of the Federal Decree-Law No. 5 of 2012 on combating cybercrimes, emphasising its significant role in fighting new crimes that emerge along with the rapid technological developments.

"Under this law, these crimes can be addressed in a constitutional and legal deterrent manner that minimises the negative impacts resulting from the misuse of modern technologies on the social and economic interests of the UAE and individuals," it added.