Dubai’s authorities are not controlling social network websites but are watching suspected sites for possible criminal activity, the emirate’s deputy police commander was reported on Thursday as saying.

“Twitter and Facebook are not under out control or censorship because we respect the privacy of people…we do not want to track their secrets and life details,” Major General Khamis Matar Al Mazinah told a delegation of foreign university students in Dubai.

“Dubai police are only involved in a process of follow up just in case a user commits an offence on his page such as insulting others…in this case, the user will be identified and prosecuted according to the law.”

Mazinah said there had been public confusion regarding the police’s internet role in the protection of the public, adding that only suspected sites are watched.

“We act when we receive a report about an offence on social network and chatting sites…we also deal with electronic fraud when we receive reports in this respect…internet has become an open field for various gangs or intruders targeting their victims randomly…we have seized several people involved in electronic fraud, blackmail, swindling and soliciting of girls.”