An unrivaled global cyber-attack is poised to continue claiming victims as people return to work and turn on their desktop computers, even as hospitals and other facilities gain the upper hand against the first wave.
More than 200,000 computers in at least 150 countries have so far been infected, according to Europol, the European Union's law enforcement agency. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre said new cases of so-called ransomware are possible "at a significant scale."
The malware used a technique purportedly stolen from the US National Security Agency. It affected the UK's National Health Service, Russia's Ministry of Interior, Germany's Deutsche Bahn rail system, automakers Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA, PetroChina, logistics giant FedEx Corp., and other companies and hospitals computer systems in countries from Eastern Europe to the US and Asia.
To date, the UAE has remained unscathed. But what is the law in the Emirates for anyone convicted of being party to a crime? It is of utmost importance to know more about UAE laws on cybercrimes and what one might be up against if such a crime is committed.
If one intentionally attacks an information system network in the UAE by hacking or gaining illegal access and that causes any form of damage, he or she will be up against strict penalties, including prison and hefty fines.
Legal Consultant Hassan Elhais pointed out that those who commit a deliberate act that results in halting or disrupting information systems will face up to five years in prison and a fine ranging between Dh500,000 and Dh3M.
He said that according to article 10 from law No 5 of 2013 on Combating Information Technology Crimes, a penalty of not less than five years imprisonment and, or a fine of not less than AED500,000 and not to exceed AED3m. The law covers anyone who installs, without permission, a programme to a computer network, an electronic information system or an information technology means and this results in suspending, disabling or destroying a network, causing partial or complete loss of data. The law also covers erasing, damaging, altering and modifying data.
Individuals charged with and convicted of obstructing access to computer networks, websites, information systems or government online portals will be punished according to article 8 of the same law, by temporary imprisonment and a fine of not less than Dh100,000 and not more than Dh200,000.
Dr. Elhais confirmed that the UAE law on Combating Information Technology Crimes strengthened the penalty on illegal access to government sites as per article 4 of the same law, which states that a person who accesses without permission, a government website or information system to obtain government data, or confidential information of a financial, commercial or economic nature, will be punished with temporary imprisonment and a fine from Dh250,000 up to Dh1,5M.
If the illegal access results in exposure to any of the obtained data or caused its cancellation, destruction, alteration, reproduction, publication or re-publication, the defendant will face a jail term with a minimum of five years and a fine equal to or greater than Dh500,000 and not more than Dh2m.
If the defendant is an expatriate, he or she will be deported after serving his or her jail term.
UPDATE:
The Government of the United Arab Emirates has issued a new law on combating cybercrime, called the Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 (New Cybercrime Law) tackling cybercrime, rumours and fake news. The New Cybercrime Law was issued on 20 September 2021 and came into force on 2 January 2022. It also repealed the existing Federal Decree-Law No. 5 of 2012. The New Cybercrime Law has expanded the scope of activities punishable under this law, including hacking and impersonation.
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