Penalties for Blackmailing in the UAE

Are you being blackmailed in the United Arab Emirates? The blackmailer cannot escape a penalty. The UAE’s legal system has zero tolerance for blackmailers. Therefore, UAE laws are often changed and advanced to improve the judicial structure, ensuring the safety of every individual living in country. Blackmailing is a criminal offense, and the offender will have serious repercussions in UAE.

Blackmailing is an act of threatening someone by revealing their personal details, photos, or videos and demanding money in return. Nowadays, with the advancement in technology, internet blackmailing is very common. Individuals are blackmailed online, and their personal accounts, such as social media handles and bank accounts, are hacked. This has led the UAE government to introduce laws for digital violations to penalize hackers.

Aspects of Blackmailing

The main aspects of blackmailing involve:

• A threat to reveal sensitive and harmful information about the victim
• Intention to get something out of this act, either money or just fun
• Intimidating the victim

As the world has transformed into a digital space, threats are also being made smartly. The victim could be vulnerable to sharing photos and videos online while giving access to a broader audience on the internet.

Several types of blackmailing cases are reported in the UAE. Here are a few common types that are prevalent in the UAE:

1. Monetary Blackmail

It is a type of blackmail that involves the offender’s financial interest. The offender threatens the victim by leaking their photos/videos or sharing sensitive information to get good money.

1. Blackmailing on the Internet

Cybercrimes have become common in the UAE as the digital space has taken over the world through social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. People’s bank accounts are hacked through phone calls or images shared online.

1. Blackmail at Work

Are you feeling intimidated by a co-worker or your manager at work? Usually, employees are bullied by employers or co-workers at work. The UAE labour laws have strict penalties against harassment and discrimination. At the workplace, anyone could be blackmailed, whether they are top management or regular staff. No one wants to ruin their reputation in the office.

Blackmailed by Friends or Family Members

Nowadays, the internet is vast. People share their personal lives openly, especially when influencers are taken all over the internet. The young generation is often blackmailed as they share intimate photos and videos with their peers, who later turn their backs. They may not want money, but usually, they are emotionally stuck and want the other person to suffer.

Some laws address the issue of blackmail in the UAE. Considering that blackmailing is wrongful and crime rates are increasing in the UAE, the legal structure is thought to be strengthened more, adding cybercrime laws to the judicial system. Let’s take a look at the laws against blackmailing in the UAE:

• UAE Penal Code

According to the UAE Penal Code, blackmailing is a crime of intimidation and extortion. Any individual who threatens the other or manipulates them to gain an advantage is considered a criminal and will be punished under the UAE Penal Code.

• Cybercrime Law in the UAE

Cybercrime laws are implemented when anyone is intimidated, blackmailed, or harassed online. In most cases, cybercriminals hack individuals’ social accounts and take out their confidential information to blackmail them. The UAE Cybercrime Law ensures that anyone who has committed hacking or harassing people online will face severe consequences, such as imprisonment.

• Defamation and Privacy Laws in the UAE

No one is allowed to invade your privacy, physical or digital. Therefore, cybercriminals are caught and penalized for sharing private information about individuals without their permission.

If someone has harassed or blackmailed you, you must report the incident to the cybercrime branch or talk to a lawyer in the UAE. There is zero tolerance policy for blackmail, and the crime offender is penalized in different ways:

• Imprisonment

Individuals involved in blackmailing can be sent to jail for more than a year. The length of imprisonment depends on the sensitivity and severity of the offense. For details, you can check with our lawyers.

• Heavy Fines

The blackmailer has to pay a heavy fine for blackmailing on the internet, either by scamming them for extra money or hacking into their bank accounts.

• Deportation for Expats

Being an expat in the UAE is good for you as you will find many job opportunities. But, if you were involved in a blackmailing case, you would be sent back to your country after serving a few years in the UAE’s prison.

• Confiscation of Devices

All your devices will be confiscated if proven guilty in the blackmail case. You can never retrieve them, even if your imprisonment years have ended.

The individuals are vulnerable in situations where they are constantly threatened and blackmailed. They can work out their way from the blackmailing case:

• Don’t Make Hasty Decisions

You should remain calm with whatever you have heard from the blackmailer. Wait to give them something immediately that they have demanded. Also, keep your records in a safe place. Never delete messages or calls, as these are powerful tools in the legal case.

• Collect Evidence

You should keep all communication safe, including text messages, social media threats, and emails. However, you should also take screenshots of the evidence, ensuring that it is safe with you.

• Talk to the Authorities

You should not hesitate to lodge a complaint at the nearest police station. You can also register your complaint online through a particular crime portal available in the UAE. Ensure that authorities have enough evidence to begin their investigations.

• No Engagements with Blackmailer

Never go to places where blackmailers call you. Always keep the authorities alert about calls by asking them to tap your landline and mobile phone for a few days. Do not confront the blackmailer unless you have security with you.

• Talk to a Lawyer

In this situation, the victim is usually terrified. Therefore, they should hire a lawyer to provide you with the best legal advice.

In today’s world, when the internet is the most happening place, you must keep alert to all the digital news and laws in the UAE. The following tips can help you to avoid blackmail:

Do not use easy passwords for your social media accounts. Always use two-factor authentication for your social media and bank accounts. You must not share sensitive information on social media, especially if it is too private. Putting limited information across the internet will let you avoid blackmailing online. Never accept a message or click on links sent by your friends, family members, or strangers online. The authentication of the links can be seen online.

Your laptops, computers, and even smartphones should have security software installed, as well as an anti-virus. Try not to use public Wi-Fi unless it is an emergency.

Nowadays, the young generation is getting too much intimating with their peers that they have trusted. They must keep all the photos and videos private from their friends because everyone cannot be trusted. It is advised that a lawyer be hired for blackmailing cases so that you can get good legal support and relief from all the stress you were carrying because of the incident.