One fact is certain: the UAE Government monitors Internet activity. Whether an individual is simply “surfing the net,” downloading content through peer-to-peer file-sharing programs, or communicating in a chat-room, law enforcement surveillance should be assumed, and there is no anonymity in an individual’s computer. Based on Internet surveillance and monitoring, federal agents investigating Internet crimes can and do obtain warrant to seize computers. And, contrary to common belief, deleting a file or content from a computer does not make it disappear. Federal agents investigating Internet crimes possess the computer programs, time, and funding to retrieve date thought deleted or destroyed.

Computer hacking, fraud, credit card fraud, identity theft, internet extortion, investment fraud, Ponzi/pyramid schemes, investment fraud, lotteries, internet auction fraud, phishing/spoofing (forged electronic documents), and spam can all result in an investigation and potential prosecution for federal internet crimes, or cyber-crimes.

Internet crimes such as acquiring, possessing, and distributing pornography over the internet often carry mandatory minimum sentences of imprisonment and lifetime sexual registration as a sex offender. It is not uncommon for a curious individual merely looking at images on the Internet to find themselves under investigation and indictment for Internet pornography crimes. The potential consequences to freedom and public standing can be disastrous.

At The Law Offices of omar alhelali we have been deeply involved in the defense of clients charged with a variety of “hacking” and Internet crimes for many years. Our criminal defence lawyers monitor the latest investigative and technical Internet crime developments so that our defence against charges of Internet crimes involves cutting edge strategies.