Online child porn cases 'higher than last year'

Eight cases of online crime involving obscene pictures and videos of children have been reported since the beginning of the year, Dubai police have revealed.

Lt Col Dr Jasem Khalil Mirza, Director of Security Awareness with Dubai Police, said the figure was already higher than the total for all of last year, when seven cases of cyber crimes were reported - four offences related to posting sexual material involving children, one of child trafficking, one of slander and defamation, and one related to menace and extortion.

During a workshop organised by Dubai's Community Development Authority last Monday, Lt Col Dr Mirza said the first half of last year saw only three cases of computer crimes against children reported, and warned of an escalation.

The workshop also warned parents against leaving their children unsupervised with access to the internet or mobile smartphones.

Mouza Al Shoumi, director of the Child Department at the Ministry of Social Affairs, said prolonged exposure to the internet can cause health problems due to a lack of exercise, while pornographic sites can also be a threat to morality.

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