DUBAI // Fifteen abusive or defamatory Facebook and Twitter accounts were shut in the first three months of this year, including three last week, police have said.
Maj Saeed Al Hajri, the head of the electronic crime division of Dubai Police, said the websites agreed to close the accounts after being given evidence of the users' actions.
The move followed investigations by police electronic patrols.
Dubai Police yesterday said that social media websites were not routinely monitored but only scrutinised when there was a complaint.
"Electronic patrols do not monitor social media websites as they are considered the private matter of the account holder," said Maj Salem Obaid, deputy director of anti-electronic crimes at Dubai Police CID. "But in case of a defamation or abuse complaint, our patrols enter these accounts to prove the validity of the claim and collect evidence in the case."
Maj Gen Khamis Al Mazeina, the deputy chief of Dubai Police, stated last month that the routine monitoring of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter was considered a violation of UAE law, as it would infringe on personal freedom.
The issue of freedom of expression on social networks was highlighted in February when the Dubai Police chief, Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim, pursued a defamation case against a 42-year-old Emirati, alleging the man had defamed him on Twitter with unfounded accusations of corruption and injustice.
Judge Jamal Al Sumaiti, the head of the Dubai Judicial Institute, pointed out that the authors of insults on social networks were liable to prosecution under the law.
Maj Obaid said electronic police patrols have a heavy presence on the internet and closely monitor several chat forums to ensure they are not havens for exploitation, blackmail, stalking, pornography or narcotics.
"We are present around the clock on the internet and have a similar task of the actual patrols, where we work to discover and prevent many crimes, such as prostitution and drug selling," Maj Obaid said.
Electronic patrols were established in 2009 as part of the anti-electronic crimes department, which was set up as a unit in 2002 and transformed into a department in 2008.
In the first quarter of this year, the department dealt with 179 cases, including online defamation, blackmailing and abuse.
The department did not provide a breakdown of its cases or conviction rates.
The number of electronic crime cases investigated by Dubai Police has increased from 266 in 2010 to 596 last year.
wissa@thenational.ae
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
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WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho
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Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v tba
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
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On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
New schools in Dubai
The specs: 2018 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
Price, base / as tested Dh97,600
Engine 1,745cc Milwaukee-Eight v-twin engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 78hp @ 5,250rpm
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Fuel economy, combined 5.0L / 100km (estimate)
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Brett Anderson
Little Brown Book Group