Illegal spy cameras available in Dragon Mart

UAE’s telecom regulatory authority has warned distributors at Dragon Mall against selling unauthorised telecom products including hidden, or spy, cameras.

A press statement issued by Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) on Monday said that hidden cameras are not allowed in the UAE, but the stores are selling these gadgets.

It warned that many of such sensitive wireless products need prior permission of Dubai Police and TRA but trade in these telecom products have been reportedly booming.

The regulatory authority is cracking down against fake and illegal telecommunication devices and mobile phones sold through various shops in Dragon Mart, targeting traders and suppliers at the shopping mall.

The crackdown covers illegal trading in wireless products, which can be misused against public safety and other illegal hardware that uses random bandwidth, which is against the security rules.

TRA officials said traders and suppliers were briefed about the violations and fines emerging in the case of selling telecommunications equipment without pre-authorisation issued by the TRA, which is considered an unlawful action, in addition to using wireless equipment which are unauthorised by the TRA, and hardware that uses random bandwidth which are not allowed in the country.

“The campaign also provided explanations to traders and suppliers of applicable Laws and Regulations in the telecommunications sector in the UAE. It elaborated on the importance the TRA gives to the protection of this sector from risks emerging from unauthorized equipment, with an eventual aim of benefiting the traders and suppliers on one hand, and the users on the other, in order to reach to a telecommunications sector that operates seamlessly, securely and conveniently to all parties,” TRA said in a statement.

Muhammad Nasser Al Ghanim, Director-General of TRA, said: “Spreading awareness within the telecommunications sector in the UAE, regarding what is permitted and what is prohibited in telecommunications equipment is definitely very important in terms of maintaining observation on the sector at its highest, in order to ensure a safer telecommunications environment. In addition to informing traders and suppliers about what is prohibited in order to prevent them from unintentionally performing actions that may put them on the other side of the law.

The campaign was clear and direct so that it can prevent any misunderstanding on the traders and suppliers side. We distributed publications which included all the required information related to the topic of the campaign, and in order to tackle the language barrier, we prepared our publications in three languages: Arabic, English, and Chinese,” Al Ghanim added. 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.