UAE, July 1, 2016- The Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) has directed social media users in general and parents in particular to avoid compromising their privacy on social media through the use of strong passwords, carefully reading the terms and conditions for granting permissions to smart phone applications, and reminding children not to accept friend requests from strangers. The authority advised families on how to ensure their children’s safe activities on social networks and discouraged them from sharing their geographical location, personal information and photographs on devices connected to the internet to protect them from blackmail.

This was done during the Authority’s participation in a seminar on blackmailing conducted with Al Ameen Program at the Al Rashidiya Majlis in collaboration with Dubai’s Community Development Authority. The session aimed to raise parents’ awareness on the risks of blackmail posed on children by the unsafe use of the internet in general and social media in particular. Mothers were advised to use parental control applications and review games and applications before downloading them.

Eng. Mohamed Al Zarooni, TRA’s Director for Policies and Programs said: “Events such as these are in line with the Authority’s social responsibility and related accredited programs which aim to protect families and society as a whole from the risks of online attempts to fool users in general and children in particular. Through this workshop we shall educate people on the proper use of the internet and smart applications.”

The seminar focused on the technical, security, legal, and social aspects of internet use. It also covered child protection, outlining important procedures to be followed by parents to protect their children from blackmail and ensure social media privacy.

Eng. Ghaith Almazaina, Manager for Business Affairs at TRA’s Computer Emergency Response Team, pointed out to the importance of protecting privacy as he explained that extortionists choose their victims based on posts and activities on social media which can inadvertently reveal personal information, financial status, and geographical location.

“It is very important to read the terms for using smart phone applications to ensure that permissions are granted only after careful consideration. These permissions can be controlled through the application settings which display access to personal data such as photos,” Almazaina said.

“Our main concern is the unsafe technical practices of potential victims such as using weak or predictable passwords which allow extortionists to easily access accounts; visitingsuspicious websites; downloading hacked programs that may contain malicious software; and not properly and thoroughly deleting phone data,” Almazaina added.

Eng. Almazaina concluded with advice on the best practices for safely using social media and the internet. He emphasized the importance of protecting computer systems through regular updates to the operating system and anti-virus programs, avoiding the unprotected storage of personal information on devices connected to the internet, and downloading programs only from trusted sources. He also invited parents to use parental control applications, review games and applications prior to downloading, and ensure that applications suit their children’s ages.

Media consultant Khalil Al Ali, senior officer at Al Ameen, spoke about the impact of social media applications to both national and personal security. He pointed out that irresponsible people stand behind various famous applications and use them to get information, data, photos and videos from users to serve their own interests. He warned users to avoid using those applications without reading terms and conditions.

“We are suffering from cultural neglect within this field. Google as an example is allowed to collect and store users’ data, call logs of smart phones, SMS, and locate them as in the case of social media games especially live ones. He emphasized the importance of being aware of terrorist groups, which attract the youth and children through social media. The war these days is through websites and social media to win minds and change thoughts,” Al Ali said.

“The law in UAE criminalizes 52 cases related to social media including blackmailing, fraud, defamation, abuse of the country and many others, he noted. He called on the audience to review the country’s laws through ‘UAE Legislations App’.

Mr. Abdulla Shukri from Al-Ameen service discussed about protecting the society from the risks of modern technology by first having the awareness among community members to avoid falling victim of blackmailing, which are only happens on isolated cases and has not become a widespread phenomenon. 

“Parents are responsible to warn their children and protect them from blackmailers, guide them on how to use social media positively, and educate them about the risks, so it is important to follow up with the children, discuss with them and educate them on rules using the internet to avoid interacting with strangers and those that post fake accounts,” he added.

Boushra Qaad, Head of Child Protection in the Community Development Authority, concluded the seminar with a lecture titled ‘The cultural hub according to child protection law’, which explains Federal Law 3 for 2016 in UAE. The law considers individuals below 18 years of age as a child. She emphasized that child abuse is an act that can harm the child and prevents him from growing safely and healthily. Neglect and ignorance of children’s health, education or safety is also preventing them from enjoying a safe and healthy childhood, she added.