Using VPN, Fraudulent IPs in UAE can lend you Dhs 500,000 fine and a jail term

According to a recent news, using an IP address for the purpose of committing a crime or preventing its discovery shall be punished by temporary imprisonment and a fine of up to Dhs 2,000,000 (Yes, 2 Million AED).

As reported here, the recently issued Federal Law No. 12/2016 has amended Federal Law No. 5/2012 on combating information technology crimes.

Article 1 provides for replacing the text of Article 9 of Federal Law No. 9/2012 as follows:

Whoever uses a fraudulent computer network protocol address (IP address) by using a false address or a third-party address by any other means for the purpose of committing a crime or preventing its discovery, shall be punished by temporary imprisonment and a fine of no less than Dh500,000 and not exceeding Dh2,000,000, or either of these two penalties.

Article 2 of the law states that the law shall be published in the Official ‘Gazette’ and shall come into effect the day following publication.