What is cyberbullying?

What is cyberbullying?

What is Cyber Harassment?

What is cyberbullying?

Cyber harassment or online abuse includes a range of actions such as threats, defamation, sharing personal photos or information without consent, blackmail, or cyberbullying. These actions can lead to anxiety, depression, and, in severe cases, suicide or psychological disorders.

Legal Framework in the UAE

  1. Federal Law No. 34 of 2021 – Combating Cybercrime and Rumors
  • Criminalizes Spreading rumors and gossip (Article 52), punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of not less than 100,000AED.
  • Cyber threats (Article 42), punishable by up to two years in prison and fines of 250,000-500,000 Dirhams, up to 10 years if the threat is accompanied by a request.
  • Online defamation (Article 43): Imprisonment and fines 250,000-500,000 Dirham (gulfnews.com).
  • Violation of privacy: Publishing photos or personal information without permission is punishable by up to6 months and fines of 150,000-500,000dirhams (uaelegislation.gov.ae).
  • Posting obscene content or propaganda for pornography (Article 34): Penalties up to imprisonment and fines 250,000-500,000 Dirhams, and stricter for pediatric cases.

 

General penalties for cybercrime

The law also includes (lawyersuae.com):

Type of Cybercrime Punishment
Harassment/Cyberbullying Up to 500,000 fineDirhams and up to 3 years imprisonment
Hacking 6 months to 10 years imprisonment + fines (150,000-750,000Dahm)
Electronic Financial Fraud Up to 1,000,000 fineDirhams + up to 10 years imprisonment

 

How are penalties and reporting methods used?

  • Devices and software used to commit the offense will be confiscated (lawyersuae.com, lawyersuae.com).
  • Crimes are reported to the public prosecution and the police, who communicate through multiple channels:
  • Applications “Hemayati”“My Safe Society “My Safe Society”platform eCrime – Dubai/Abu Dhabior contact999/Al Ameen/8004888/8002626/116111 (gulfnews.com).

 

What should you do if you are harassed?

According to the advice of lawyers and legal experts in the UAE:

  1. Documentation of evidence: Save messages, photos, published content.
  2. Familiarize yourself with the laws: Such as arrests and fines to understand your rights.
  3. Using the blocking and reporting feature via the platform.
  4. Limit the sharing of personal information.
  5. Immediate reporting through official channels.
  6. Hire a legal advisor if necessary.

Salvation
In the UAE, there is a comprehensive law to punish cyber harassment in all its forms (defamation, threats, unauthorized publication of images, etc.), including severe penalties through a clear legal system (Penal Codes, Law 34/2021). The system provides reporting and penalization tools to help protect users and ensure the safety of the digital space.

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