A new legislation to boost digital safety was unanimously approved by the Shura Council during its weekly session yesterday.
The new insertions to the 1976 Penal Code drafted by the government were unanimously approved by the MPs in October this year.
A referral vote for ratification by His Majesty King Hamad will be taken during the upper chamber’s next weekly session on Sunday.
Shura foreign affairs, defence and national security committee rapporteur Dr Bassam Albinmohammed said that the law aims to enhance the protection of modern communication devices such as mobile phones and laptops.
“These devices often contain sensitive personal information, financial data and other private details that could be exploited unlawfully, causing harm to their owners,” he added.
“Consequently, the proposed amendments seek to impose stricter penalties for crimes involving the theft of such devices.”
He emphasised that the legislative initiative represented a proactive step towards updating the Penal Code to align with changes in people’s lives, particularly the increasing reliance on mobile phones and laptops for both work and personal purposes.
Under the new law, cyber criminals could face punishments of up to two years in jail or fines of up to BD500, or both.
Any form of theft using mobile phones, computers, tablets or ‘any other electronic, magnetic, electrochemical or visual devices with the ability to send, receive, process, store and restore data’ will be punished with no less than three months in jail.
If the intent is to steal information, data or photographs, the punishment will be upgraded to no less than a year in jail.
The accused will face a maximum of two years in prison or a fine of up to BD500 if the attempted hack is from device to device.
Theft of information, data or photographs along with the equipment holding them would lead to a maximum of two years in jail, or a fine of up to BD500, or both.
The government had previously explained the importance of protecting electronic devices which contained personal, secret and classified information besides access to bank accounts and details of transactions.
Interior Ministry’s Under-Secretary for Legislative Authority Affairs Rashid Bunajma had also earlier told Shura’s foreign affairs, defence and national security committee that cyber protection was an ongoing security commitment.
“We will continue fighting cybercrime in all its forms,” he had said.
Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry assistant under-secretary for state cases and international co-operation Dr Mohammed Mijbel had said that the new insertions would provide more protection to information, databases and personal secrets.
Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry acting telecommunications director Mohammed Binali said the use of electronic equipment had become a way of life over the past two decades and a comprehensive legislative framework was needed to ensure that offenders were punished.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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