Qatar to introduce strict cyber laws
The Advisory Council that approved Qatar’s draft law on combating cyber crime", with some amendments, has recommended an extensive media campaign to raise awareness about the law and punishments for violations.
The Council met on Monday and recommended scrapping the “minimum punishment” clause from the draft.
According to the draft law, which contains 54 articles and five chapters, those who try to make illegal access or hack any sort of official data or website will be violating the law and liable for punishments.
Hosting websites intended to subvert the law of the land or for spreading false news that may harm the country’s safety and security would be prosecuted.
Forging written documents with the support of electronic systems will also attract punishment.
Forging signatures online and impersonating government officials or making any attempt to wrongly give the impression that one represents any government body, would be violating the law.
Using forged bank cards for online purchase, violations of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) or any other kind of online frauds would be sternly dealt with.
Hosting porn websites and circulating, copying and producing any kind of porn materials are liable for punishment under the new law.
The office of the public prosecution is the competent authority to investigate violations.
It can seize electronic systems/gizmos used for committing the frauds.
Those who have got information on any kind of cyber crimes should share that with the investigating agency during interrogation.
On the extradition of the accused involved in international cases, the draft law says a foreigner convicted in a cyber crime in Qatar will not be handed over to their country.
It is important to launch an extensive campaign about the new law. People must be educated through the media about the impacts of violating the law and punishments that await violators.
Cyber crime is fast spreading across the world.
Since Qatar doesn’t have a law to combat it, this law is very important for the country, the Advisory Council said. | Source: The Peninsula | Image: Science and Technology Park by Gary McGovern
