Oman Public Prosecution Warns Parents Over Online Grooming of Children

Oman’s Public Prosecution has warned parents about the growing risks children face online, including being groomed through electronic games and social media before being exposed to crimes such as kidnapping, trafficking and sexual abuse.

 

Speaking to Oman Radio, Dr Hussain bin Ali Al Senani, Assistant Public Prosecutor, highlighted the dangers of online grooming and urged parents to closely monitor their children’s use of electronic games and social media platforms.

 

Al Senani said the Public Prosecution has established a specialised team to deal with cybercrime cases, recognising that digital offences differ from traditional crimes in their nature, methods of commission, analysis and investigation.

 

He stressed that parents have a central role in protecting children by maintaining regular oversight of their online activities, building trust and helping them understand the risks associated with the digital environment.

 

Parents should monitor their children’s internet use, understand who they interact with online and teach them not to disclose personal information or respond to requests from strangers, he said.

 

According to Al Senani, offenders may use digital platforms to establish contact with children and gradually build trust before attempting to lure them into dangerous situations.

 

He also noted that Omani law provides for tougher penalties where the victim is a child, reflecting efforts to strengthen legal protection for minors and combat offences targeting them.

 

Cybercrime Risks

 

Al Senani warned that electronic platforms can also be misused to promote or publish content that conflicts with Oman’s values and traditions.

 

He said Oman’s Cybercrime Law was introduced to address such violations and regulate offences committed through electronic means. Unlike many traditional crimes, he noted, digital offences can spread rapidly and reach a much wider audience, making their impact more difficult to contain.

 

He referred to the circulation of malicious rumours during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of how quickly misleading information can spread online and how challenging it can be to limit its consequences once content reaches a large audience.

 

Combating cybercrime therefore requires greater public awareness and responsible use of digital platforms, alongside specialised legislation and investigative mechanisms capable of responding to evolving forms of cybercrime, Al Senani said.

 

Warning Over Photographs

Al Senani also cautioned members of the public against photographing people in public places without their permission, particularly when they are accompanied by family members.

 

He stressed that photographing individuals without their consent may constitute a violation of the law and urged the public to respect privacy when taking, using or sharing photographs and other personal images.

 

Legal responsibility may also extend beyond the person who originally captured a photograph or video, he warned. Individuals who subsequently repost or circulate images or videos of people without their consent may also face legal consequences.

 

Al Senani urged the public to think carefully before sharing or reposting material containing photographs or videos of other people, particularly where the content was recorded without their knowledge or permission.

 

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