Qatar yesterday took a major step in its fight against cyber crimes with the Cabinet approving a draft law to enact a law to bring to book hackers and others who misuse the Internet.

The proposed law has provisions to protect state entities, business organisations, families and individuals from cyber criminals.

At its weekly  regular session presided over by HE the Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani at the Emiri Diwan, the Cabinet decided to refer the draft law to the Advisory Council for its approval and recommendations.

The new law is meant to punish anyone who manages, via the Internet or any information technology means, without a right,  to enter a website and information system of any of the state’s organs, institutions, authorities or otherwise affiliated bodies or companies thereon.

It stipulates that  anyone who establishes or runs a website via the Internet or any information technology means illegally, or publishes false news with the aim of jeopardising the state safety, its general order, internal or external security, will be liable for legal action.

The law will also punish any one who infringes on the social principles or values or otherwise publishes news, photos, audio or visual recordings related to the sanctity of the private and family life of persons, even if they are true, or infringes on others by libel or slander via the Internet or other information technology means.

Speaking on the sidelines of a recent seminar, Minister of Justice HE Hassan bin Abdullah al-Ghanem had stressed the importance of regulating the use of cyberspace. 

“The individual is free to use cyberspace but within the limits of the law. In Qatar, we are interested in having a well-developed law to organise Internet freedom,” he was quoted as saying by a local daily.

According to the Minister,  Qatar has some regulations that deal with the safety of electronic information but the country is aiming for a “comprehensive law that tackled all details and developments in this area”.

Al-Ghanem said the new law was meant to ensure that people used the Internet and information technology without breaking laws and without violating the rights and freedom of the people.

Along with the enactment of a comprehensive law, representatives of Qatar’s finance sector and ictQATAR’s cyber security division - Qatar Computer Emergency Response Team (Q-CERT) - have been working to protect  sensitive data and enhance security as Internet commerce and banking continue to grow worldwide with consumers demanding more online and mobile services .

According to Khalid al-Hashimi, executive director, Q-CERT, cyber attacks impact large corporations and individual consumers equally in the finance sector.

“As the potential points for malicious and fraudulent activity increase as a result of advances in technology, it becomes increasingly essential for co-ordination among public and private institutions. Early warnings systems, information sharing mechanisms, applied research and situational awareness are at the heart of developing a safe, and resilient information services networks for the finance sector.”