The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) held an awareness-raising lecture on "Cybercrime and its Dangers to Society" in conjunction with "Majalis" Abu Dhabi at the Citizens and Community Affairs Office of the Presidential Court as part of its initiatives to foster legal awareness among the constituents of society in order to ensure their protection and to shield them from the risks conveyed by crimes involving the use of contemporary technologies and social media.
The lecture, delivered by Chief Prosecutor Dr. Abdulla Hamad Al Mansouri, covered the nature and definition of cybercrime, the risks of cyber-extortion, and the legal sanctions.
The lecturer also concentrated on the reasons and circumstances that cause members of society to fall victim to cyber-extortionists and provided a number of useful examples drawn from actual prosecution cases.
In accordance with the terms of Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combating Rumors and Cybercrime, Dr. Al Mansouri covered the dangers linked with the exploit of social media networks and the responsibility of users. On January 2, 2022, the Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combating Rumors and Cybercrimes went into effect.
It aims to increase protection against online crimes committed using networks, platforms, and information technology. Additionally, it aims to protect the databases and websites of the UAE's government, stop the spread of rumours and false information, protect against electronic fraud, and uphold individual rights and privacy.
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has previously drawn attention to the risks posed by cybercrime. In order to ensure the defence and safety of society from crimes utilising modern technologies, particularly through the pervasive use of social media, the ADJD organised two lectures on "Cybercrime and its Risks to Society" in July of last year. One occasionally comes across news of people who fall prey to online predators or scammers; even children are a target of these crimes.
The Dubai Police General HQ has urged the public to use social media platforms responsibly and to be on the lookout for online scammers and cybercriminals. These statements were made by Expert Major General Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs at Dubai Police, as he discussed Operation "Shadow," which was carried out nearly three years ago and resulted in the arrest of 20 African gangs for extortion crimes against social media users and for blackmailing and cyber extortion. He added that the police had detained a married couple who had fooled users of social media by pretending to be a domestic helper recruitment agency.
The world's largest trade fair for safety, security, and fire protection, Intersec 2023, will take place over 47,000 square metres at the Dubai World Trade Center from January 17 to 19, and the Dubai Electronic Security Centre (DESC), which works to ensure the emirate becomes a leader in cybersecurity and the protection of information from external cyber threats, has been named the official government partner.
At Intersec's Cyber Security sector, specialists in the public and private sectors, national leaders, advisors, economists, and corporate buyers will be present. According to Dr. Bushra Al Blooshi, Head of Research & Innovation at DESC, "Given the rapidly developing technology of today, cybersecurity is an absolute necessity for businesses, especially with remote working culture and digital transformation."
