British man charged with cybercrimes for allegedly filming missile strikes in Dubai, UK authorities confirm
By CNN staff
LONDON (CNN) — A British man has been charged under cyber-crime laws in Dubai for allegedly filming Iranian missiles over the city, UK authorities confirmed.
The 60-year-old man, reported to be a tourist, was charged under a law that prohibits publishing or sharing material that could disturb public security. “We are in contact with the local authorities following the detention of a British man in the UAE,” the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office told CNN.
CNN has reached out to the Dubai government for comment.
Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE’s minister of state to the EU, told the BBC she was “aware” there had been “some violations” of the law but did not comment on the British man’s case specifically. She said that the regulations had been introduced for public safety. “My best advice to everyone here, who we welcome being here… is follow the guidelines. The guidelines are there for your safety and for your protection.”
The penalty for breaching cybercrime laws in the UAE is a minimum of two years in prison, as well as a 200,000 UAE dirham (around $54,000) fine.
In an interview on UK radio station LBC, the UAE’s ambassador to the UK, Mansoor Abulhoul, said the “United Arab Emirates is very safe.”
He said: “The guidelines and regulations are there in the UAE to ensure people’s safety” and that the UAE was discouraging people from filming so that they wouldn’t be hit by “falling debris.”
Last Friday, the Attorney General of the UAE warned people against circulating photos or videos showing the sites of attacks, or inaccurate information that might cause panic.
Another government warning, circulated by emails, text messages and public information announcements, said: “Photographing or sharing security or critical sites, or reposting unreliable information, may result in legal action and compromise national security and stability. Compliance helps keep the community safe and stable.”
And another warned people to “think before you share. Spreading rumors is a crime.”
In a post on X, the UK Embassy in the UAE said: “UAE authorities warn against photographing, posting, or sharing images of incident sites or projectile damage as well as government buildings and diplomatic missions. British nationals are subject to UAE laws, violations may lead to fines, imprisonment, or deportation.”
More than 1,800 drones and missiles have been launched at the UAE since the war began, the country’s defense ministry said on X on Friday. Six people have been killed and 141 have been injured.
The-CNN-Wire
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