MoI reiterates on cybercrimes during a virtual seminar

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has warned and reiterated that the penalty for cybercrimes ranges from six months to five years of imprisonment. The cybercrime as defined by Qatari Law is any act involving an unlawful use of an information technology technique, an information system or the internet, in violation of the provisions of the law.

During a virtual seminar that was conducted by MoI, First Lieutenant Engineer Abdulaziz Muhammad Al Kaabi, Officer at the Digital Forensic Lab, Economic and Cybercrimes Combating Department stated that: “The cybercrimes include hacking, fraud of all kinds, threat & blackmailing, sexual exploitation of children, and spreading rumours.”

Regarding the penalties, he clarified that the penalties differ according to the offense, ranging from six months to five years imprisonment and fines ranging from QR10,000 to QR500,000. Over 140 persons from the leaders and representatives of the expatriate communities in Qatar took part in this virtual seminar, which was titled as “How to Prevent Cyber and Financial Crimes”.

The seminar was hosted in partnership with the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Interior. He also affirmed that unauthorised photography through cameras and mobile phones, not only of accidents, but of everything that violates the sanctity of private life is criminalised, and the punishment is imprisonment for a period of not exceeding to two years and a fine not more than QR10,000. In order to avoid becoming a victim of a cybercrimes, Al Kaabi advised that the citizens and residents of Qatar not to give their ID number/copy to anyone unknown.

Al Kaabi said: “You must always preserve the ID card and do not hand over it or copies of the ID to anyone to conduct a transaction on your behalf. Also, he said, additional security measures should be set up in the e-mail, such as a phone number and a backup e-mail.

Al Kaabi also advised the parents to monitor children’s phones and computers, noting that all latest phones come with kid’s mode, where most harmful content is automatically blocked for children. The officer also expounded the vitality of quick reporting such types of incidents to the Department.

The virtual event concluded with general instructions on how to protect e-mail from theft and piracy, protecting credit cards and bank accounts, in addition to how we must handle anonymous calls and messages in the region.

Ministry of Interior Qatar Law Cyber crimes Abdulaziz Muhammad Al Kaabi Virtual Seminar Qatar News Qatar Day Qatar