One man recently convicted of sending "insulting words" to a colleague via the instant messaging service is waiting to learn if he will be the first to pay such a heavy price.
He was originally handed a 3,000 dirham ($816.74) fine, but the Federal Supreme Court, based in Abu Dhabi, has overturned that sentence for being too lenient.
The case has now been referred to the Court of Appeal and a date for the new hearing has yet to be confirmed.
Criminal defence lawyer Abdullah Yousef Al Nasir, told 7DAYS that according to cyber-crime law, anyone who sends an offensive emoji or image online could also be prosecuted.
He said: “Sending a middle finger emoji on a smartphone or even sending a middle finger picture through email can put you in trouble.
“It’s an insult in the UAE and the law can punish you with either jail of up to three years or a fine of up to Dhs500,000.” (About $136k)
He added that if a foreigner is convicted they will likely be deported.
However, Al Nasir said police would have to receive a complaint from the person the image was sent to in order to act, meaning one sent between friends in jest would not automatically land someone in trouble.
But he said users need to realise how seriously such an insult could be taken.
Al Nasir said: “With the development of technology, people have started insulting others on social media using services like WhatsApp or BlackBerry messenger.
“Some people insult or mock others thinking nobody can prosecute them. But the UAE has issued a cyber-crimes law to punish anyone committing any crime like insulting someone using technology.”
A senior Dubai Police official urged smartphone users to think before posting a message or image that could be offensive.
He said: “Be careful of what you send on smartphones or emails.
“It’s up to the recipient to open a criminal case if they feel offended by a message.
“It’s an insult in the UAE and the law can punish someone committing such act.”
Source: 7Days
40 comments:
Huh? This is so bad. No more privacy
Well u can't try such in Nigeria. People with rotten mouth are much.
I'm out. ***CATCH ME IF U CAN***
If they should try this down here some people will just die. Some nigerians can't go a day witout insulting someone on social media.
Ooo
If this was Nigeria, quite a number of LIB commenters would have been thrown into jail by now! They just can't make reasonable and responsible comments without abusing someone!
Lobatan! why create an emoji with middle finger in the first place if its not meant to be used ?
Wowrds of wisdom "Be careful wht u send via phones or emails". I just luv their judicial system in UAE. Hw I wish Nigeria wil copy frm them.
That anonymous who commented on the post about queen latifah steppn out with her girlfriend. U said Jesus is a fairy tale. Not my Jesus, mayb d one u know. Not mine or d other persns u insulted. You better bcareful what you say. Jesus is no fairy tale,he is real. Nobody comes to father except through him,den u don't beliv in d bible right. U better find him and ask for forgiveness. It's a pity u av not experienced him cos if u av den u dare not say what u said. I pray he visits u and on this same blog,u write to take back what u said. He sits at the right hand of God almighty,he is the way truth and light. He was there from the beginin with the Lord. He is the one who raises d poor from d dust and d beggar from d dung hill. The one who died for ur sins and he is ready to forgiv u. It won't hurt if u go on ur knees just once and pray to him and if you don't find peace in ur heart just once then go ahead with ur beliv. God bless u
Dem no get work..mumu pple
Dem no get work..mumu pple
Ok
Very true, I remember a guy that was stalking in Dubai , I got angry one day and cursed him , he munched the msg and threatens to go to police, being a sharp girl that knows uae law I also munched a previous message where he was analyzing how he will have sex wit me which is more offensive and it shut him up though I cautioned myself
awwwwww........Waiting for Nigeria to introduce the law
Moye says so via BB Passport...Courtesy LIB......
This kind of a law it's somehow
..I..
Una never start
They better leave it in U.A.E because we play too much here.
OKORO UPGRADED**
Issokay
Why does Linda not enable comment until the post I commented on has gone down my phone and I can't see it anymore, huh? Take ya time o!
Den I will send it 4rm anoda country to sum1 in saudi,let me see wat dey goin do,awon ote
Muslims and law
Ewo! This is serious. No more freedom of speech even on social media. Beware y'all especially people cyber bullying others in this blog.
❤❤❤ THE PROPHETESS
Wow, seriously?!!
The main insults is not even on whatsapp or bbm, is on blogs,facebook,instagram,twitter etc.
This islamic country self, nothing wen people no go hear for this life
These Arabs Ehn! Shebi if dey give u "middle finger emoji" u'll give em "not interested" emoji
All this Arabians sef. Joblessness dey worry them. If na Naija dis kind law dey eh. Prison no go contain us
Can it happen in Nigeria too? I hope not!
Linda cogitate
a.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said..
.
This country tooo dey feel themselfs i swear.....
.
.
***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
Hahaha.. I NO FIT lAFF..TOMJERRYsWIT
Good very good.. Let them introduce it in Nigeria and also on LIB.. All dz small small boys insulting ppl here will be jailed
I just hate dis Arab people.
Make dem carry am come naija, na im be say everybody go fall into the trap. Linda take note!
Okiie, notice to all LIBERs. Didn't want to do dis before but I gex I just have to do it as a disclaimer. One idiot on dis blog stole my identity, my name & signage. So please any negative comments on dis blog is not coming from me but from the thief cos I would neva say anything bad about someone or wish anyone evil. So I have gone back to using my old pix & my email address is (julie3er@gmail.com). Linda take note!
Swearing at all is a sin though.
Nothing wey person no go hear
MAYBE WE SHOULD DO THIS IN NIGERIA.. WE WILL SURELY BE ABLE TO PAY OUR 50BILLION USD DEBT IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR
K, that's serious.
...The doc
Make u dey there dey spread stupid lies from "outside the club" n not get your facts right
I wonder come tire join
Dis is personal...see essay
Post a Comment