8 Convicted for Sexually Exploiting Children via Online Gaming, Social Media

An Abu Dhabi court has sentenced eight individuals to prison for online child sexual exploitation, following investigations that revealed they lured minors through social media and gaming platforms to share explicit material, in violation of Federal Decree-Law No. 5 of 2012 on Combating Cybercrimes and Federal Law No. 3 of 1987 on Child Rights Protection, which criminalise the production, possession, and dissemination of child sexual content.

 

They were also found guilty of possessing and exchanging indecent material involving minors. In its ruling, the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court sentenced the convicted to jail terms ranging from three to 15 years and imposed fines of up to Dh1 million, as provided under Article 21 of the Cybercrimes Law, which prescribes imprisonment and financial penalties for online exploitation of children.

 

Alongside the prison sentences and fines, the court ordered the confiscation of electronic devices used in the offences and imposed a ban on internet access.

 

Additionally, the convicts’ online accounts linked to the crimes will be permanently closed, and three of them will face deportation after serving their prison terms.

 

The ruling follows extensive monitoring by Abu Dhabi authorities of suspicious online activity involving minors. Investigations led to the issuance of arrest warrants, resulting in the apprehension of the defendants.

 

Forensic analysis of the suspects’ electronic devices confirmed the presence of child pornographic material that had been shared and distributed online.

 

In a statement, the Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution urged parents to actively monitor their children’s online activity, educate them about the risks of interacting with strangers on social media or gaming platforms, and teach them how to respond if subjected to blackmail or coercion.

 

UAE’s Stand Against Online Child Abuse

The UAE has strengthened efforts to combat online child abuse, participating in global operations and providing specialised training to law enforcement officers.

 

As part of the “AI for Safer Kids” initiative launched by the Ministry of Interior and the United Nations Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) in 2020, officers received training in Buenos Aires to tackle child exploitation online.

 

The major operation, led by Argentina, resulted in 73 search warrants and 32 arrests. Authorities rescued 15 children and confiscated 393 electronic devices, with 22 suspects charged with producing, possessing, or distributing child sexual exploitation materials.

 

The initiative was executed simultaneously across 15 countries, including Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and the United States.

 

 

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