Cyber Crime Law In The Middle East

Do you remember that Kenyan foreign worker in Saudi Arabia who was jailed after he was caught chatting with a woman in Facebook. His mobile/cellphone was also confiscated and they found pictures of that woman he was chatting with.

We also have Raif Badawi, a blogger and a Saudi national who had been sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1000 lashes for his blog posts.

We really don't know the rules in Saudi Arabia for the use of internet or social media. But recently we also found out that the ministry has opened its own website to accept reports of harmful comments posted in the internet. It says "This service allows reporting harmful electronic comments on internet blogs". 

In a recent court ruling in UAE's Supreme Court, a man was fined for $800 after swearing at a colleague over an instant messaging application. Wherein the claimant presented his phone as proof of the insulting words he received from the accused. 

We can also recall what happened few months ago, when an American was jailed, fined and faced with possible deportation after he posted something on his Facebook page while he was on vacation in the United States (Read and watch the article here).

 In UAE, it is an offence to use the internet to mock or deride organizations and individuals. 

Their local media has reported that swearing at someone on Whatsapp could land you in jail and be fined with Dhs250,000 or $68,000. 

Anyone who swears, insults or use middle finger emoji could face jail, fine or deportation(for expats).

“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 Dhs 500,000 ($137,000),” criminal defense lawyer Abdullah Yousef al Nasir said. 

Whatever is the law they are trying to implement in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle East, it would be better to be mindful always of what is being posted specially in social networking sites like Facebook. 

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©2015 THOUGHTSKOTO

An American and Filipino Facing Charges After Posting Derogatory Remarks On Facebook

An American and Filipino were arrested on two separate cases after posting derogatory remarks on Facebook and is now facing charges based on the law in the country where they are working. 

WATCH THE NEWS HERE

UPDATE: UAE company drops slander charges against U.S. worker

Source CNN

The American, Ryan Pate who is working as helicopter mechanic for a global aerospace logistics based in Abu Dhabi said he expressed his anger on Facebook after he received news that his pay will be suspended due to his medical condition after he requested to extend his holiday so he could receive treatment for his back injury. He said, " I called them backstabbers" because of what he perceived as lack of sympathy from his company. 

When he returned to Abu Dhabi last February 16, he was arrested for slander against his company and UAE. He was bailed out last February 24. 

The Emirate laws passed on 2012  makes it an offence to use the net to mock or deride organizations and individuals. 

Although he expressed his apology, "I said some pretty derogatory things that I do regret saying...I just want to apologize to everybody I dragged into this,” Mr. Pate said in an interview. “It is embarrassing, and I never meant for this to happen. I let my emotions get the better of me.”

But he is still facing  fine of up to $10,000 and  imprisonment  of up to 5 years and deportation if convicted. 

Source CNN and Student News Daily

Back in Singapore, a Filipino nurse, Ed Mundsel Bello Ello,  has also been charged with two counts of sedition and three counts for giving false information to the police for their investigation. 

He posted offensive remarks on Facebook as follows:

He is facing sedition because of promoting feelings of hostility between Singaporeans and Filipinos in Singapore, and additional charge for lying to the police when he was questioned about this by claiming that his Facebook account has been hacked. 

If convicted he is facing fine of up to $5,000 and imprisonment of up to 3 years on each charge of sedition. And for lying to the police officials, jail of up to 1 year and/or fine of $5,000 for each count. 

Source Inquirer and Channel News Asia

©2015 THOUGHTSKOTO