Protecting Personal Data- Privacy Considerations in UAE PCC Applications .docx

1. Protecting Personal Data: Privacy Considerations in UAE PCC Applications With the increasing trend of Police Clearance Certificates (PCC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), particularly, among the expatriates who apply to get jobs, visas or to obtain residency permits, the issue of safeguarding personal data has gained so much significance. UAE PCC is an official document that is given by the police authorities of the UAE providing information about the fact whether a person has a criminal record or not. Although the procedure is simple, the personal data which will be entered are sensitive data, and this presents fundamental concerns on privacy and data protection. Applicants seeking to obtain a UAE PCC are required to offer kinds of personal information that include: ● Name in full, nationality and date of birth ● Emirates ID and copy of the passport ● Information on visas or at the entrance/exit documents ● Fingerprints (in case of some applications) ● Phone numbers and emails addresses ● Justification of PCC (employment, immigration etc.) In other instances, other supplements may include in the form of photographs, employment records or letters by the employer or embassy. All this comprises personally identifiable information (PII) which upon its mishandling it may end up stolen, politicians may end up

2. committing fraud or leveraging the information maliciously in an identity theft case. UAE privacy Regulations UAE has efficient data privacy system. Data Protection Law on the Personal Data, provides instructions about the methods of collecting, processing, and storing personal data. In line with this law, every organization; including government departments that process UAE PCC applications must make sure that personal data are: ● Gathered by express permission ● Only used for the said purpose ● Secured by proper measures of cybersecurity ● Not imparted in an unauthorized or non-legalized way The data and privacy policies that police departments and such digital platforms as the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and Dubai Police Smart App utilize comply with secure data encryption and protection measures to safeguard the information of applicants. Nonetheless, the candidates are advised to be wary particularly when they apply indirectly via third party agencies or abroad. Best Practices and Risks The greatest privacy threats of UAE PCC applications come as a result of: ● Reliance on third party unverified attestation or documentation services ● Transmission of documents using unsecured channels of communication ● The inability to comprehend how long the data will be stored and in which locations To reduce these risks applicants are advised to: ● Do not prefer unofficial sources or unknown apps ● Check the credentials of any service providers they cooperate with ● Do not send documents in your unencrypted email till public account or messaging program

3. ● Submitting privacy policies and consent form on reading Safety and Consent in the Digital World This means that as applications of UAE PCC are becoming more and more internet-based, data privacy relies not only on protection through institutional measures, but also on consumer education. Make sure you have two-factor authentication set up and never share log in details on any government portals and log out of any shared or public computer when you have finished your application. UAE PCCapplications are an everyday process most expatriates have to contend with and need to provide some of the most sensitive personal information. Through the realization of the privacy issues at stake and selection of authorized, safe sites, the applicants will be able to safely disclose their personal data in an attempt to remain in UAE law compliance. In a country where services are increasingly digitalizing, data protection will be a paramount unquantifiable aspect of faithfulness by the government and its ability to deliver confidence to the general population.