Dh5,000 fine for using VPN in UAE rumour​​​​​​​ quashed by telecoms regulator

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority issues response after a bogus text message was distributed telling VPN users to head to Bur Dubai police station​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Etisalat, the UAE’s biggest telecoms operator saw its shares gain 7.4 per cent in July. Satish Kumar / The National
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Regulators have responded to bogus claims on social media that police were handing out Dh5,000 fines for using VPNs.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority issued a notice on Twitter stating an SMS asking people to attend Bur Dubai police station for using a virtual private network (VPN) was fake.

The hoax had gone viral, with many people taking screenshots of the message and posting it online.

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Etisalat also responded to queries from customers who had received suspect text messages claiming they had been fined.

“TRA would like to draw your attention that the circulated message about using a VPN, paying AED5000 fine, and requesting attendance to the nearest police station, is fabricated, the TRA said.

“We ask the public not to circulate such messages.”