The UAE has introduced a comprehensive new decree on combating cyber crimes, which includes imprisonment for publishing online any information deemed to threaten the security of the state or violate public order.

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan issued the federal legal decree, including amendments to the previous decree issued in 2006, which was announced on the official Emirates News Agency (WAM) late on 12 November.

The decree “stipulates penalties of imprisonment on any person who may create an electronic site or any information technology means, to deride or damage the reputation or the stature of the state or any of its institutions”.

The same penalties can be enforced on “any person publishing any information, news, caricatures or any other kind of pictures that would pose threats to the security of the state and to its highest interests or violate its public order”.

In addition to crimes against the state, the decree criminalises the transmitting, publishing or promotion of online pornographic material, gambling activities and soliciting acts of adultery and prostitution.

The law includes punishments for online credit card fraud, illegal arms dealing, drug dealing, people trafficking, blackmail, unsolicited donation raising and hate crimes such as racism.

Abu Dhabi’s crackdown against online threats to public order comes in the wake of the Arab Uprisings in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen, where activists used social networking websites to organise mass protests.

The new decree enforces imprisonment for anyone using website to call for unlicensed “demonstrations, marches and similar activities”.

While the UAE has not witnessed the same levels of social unrest as most countries in the Middle East, the government has detained over 50 activists since the beginning of May, including several bloggers.

Abu Dhabi claims those arrested are members of Islamist opposition groups connected to foreign organisations and are a threat to state security.