Dubai Police arrest individuals for deliberately posting false and negative reviews on a company

A group of people involved in deliberately posting false and negative reviews on a company’s Google Maps listing have been arrested, Major Yasser Jumaa Mohammed, Head of the Social Media Crimes Section at Dubai Police’s Cybercrime Department under the General Department of Criminal Investigation, announced.

"Their coordinated efforts aimed to inflict financial harm and tarnish the company's reputation," he added.

This was shared during an episode of the "Dubai Police Podcast," organised by the Security Media Department under the General Department of Community Happiness, which premiered this Monday on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

In the episode, hosted by broadcaster Mohammed Ibrahim Al Hammadi and aptly titled "A Word Can Become a Legal Case... Be Careful," Major Yasser explained that the arrests stemmed from a formal complaint lodged by the affected company’s management. Investigations uncovered that the perpetrators were representatives of competing businesses who had formed a group to orchestrate the malicious campaign against the company via Google Maps reviews.

While discussing the case, Major Yasser highlighted the broader societal impact of such negative and baseless comments, emphasising their illegality. He reminded listeners that freedom of expression comes with responsibilities and cautioned against misusing opinions to unjustly harm individuals or their livelihoods.

Spreading Rumors

In this episode, Major Yasser Jumaa Mohammed highlights the legal responsibilities associated with "spreading and resharing rumors."

He encourages all social media users to rely on primary sources for news, particularly official channels and trusted individuals. Major Yasser Jumaa Mohammed notes that cybercrimes are a significant concern worldwide, not limited to the UAE. He describes cybercrime as "any unlawful act committed via social media, including verbal abuse, threats, spreading rumors, online fraud, hacking of social media accounts, among others."

Photography Without Permission

He also explained that taking photographs of someone without their consent can result in legal liability if the person files a criminal complaint. In situations involving crises and emergencies, it is important for individuals to follow the guidelines provided by official authorities and avoid sharing private photos or videos that may incite rumors or jeopardize public safety.

Functions of the Social Media Crimes Section

This podcast episode explores the pivotal role played by the Dubai Police Social Media Crimes Section in tackling digital offenses. It also delves into the rationale behind the UAE legislator's decision to introduce stricter penalties for cybercrimes compared to traditional crimes.

Major Yasser Juma Mohammed encourages the public and social media users to build their digital awareness, avoid spreading rumors or sharing unverified content and videos, and comply with directives from official authorities, especially during crises. He further underscores the importance of securing social media accounts to protect oneself from potential fraud.

For those seeking more information on awareness initiatives and modern fraud techniques, he highlighted the Dubai Police awareness platform, ECrimeHub. This platform offers valuable resources and guidance to promote enhanced security awareness within the community.